Throughout the year, Honda has been teasing new race-inspired parts, and it’s finally ready to deliver, starting at SEMA 2026. Along with a hardcore HRC-developed Civic Type R reportedly coming next year, Honda Racing Corporation said in 2024 that it would soon offer HRC aftermarket upgrades, and both promises were previewed with the Civic Type R HRC concept. Now, the automaker has confirmed that HRC will launch new performance parts at the 2026 edition of the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, with sales starting in March 2027. The upgrades will be offered for hot hatches and SUVs alike, so let’s see which vehicles benefit.
HRC Wheels, Exhausts, and More Coming to Honda Products
To begin with, the range of HRC Performance Parts will include lightweight forged wheels and tuned exhaust systems, but Honda has much more coming, which we’ll discuss shortly. The initial range caters to the Civic Type R (2023+) and Integra Type S (2024+), with HRC working alongside Italian outfit 2elle-engineering (wheel supplier for the race-winning 10,000-rpm Acura ARX-06 LMDh race car) to develop a forged aluminum wheel measuring 19 inches in diameter and 10 inches in width (0.5 inches wider than standard CTR/ITS wheels), finishing the thin spokes and rims in a glossy gray that matches the race car’s aesthetic. Each wheel tips the scales at just 20.8 pounds, or 5.5 lbs less than factory, saving 22 lbs of unsprung mass overall, and the offset on each has risen 5 millimeters to 55 mm. Not only does this improve track width, thus enhancing traction and grip, but the increased offset will also improve ease of fitment of larger calipers, which is not by accident…
For the Honda Passport (2026+) and Pilot (2023+), HRC worked with Titan 7, which supplies the corporation with wheels for Pikes Peak International Hill Climb racers and other production-based racing programs. In this case, strength was the key, and the new HRC 18×8-inch wheel (ET40) is forged from aircraft-grade 6061 aluminum at 10,000 tons of pressure, increasing load capacity for each wheel by over 220 lbs compared to the standard wheel. This comes in either Machine Black or Techna Bronze, each with “Honda Racing” impressions on the wheel face. The SUVs also get access to a 304 stainless steel Borla exhaust with HRC logos on the tips. This increases flow by up to six percent without causing drone at cruising speeds, and it’s designed to take up as little space as possible while working with the factory exhaust hangers. As a result, ground clearance on the Passport and Pilot increases by an impressive 1.9 inches. All of these upgrades will be available exclusively through Honda and Acura dealers or the online Honda DreamShop, but more is coming.
More to Come From Honda and HRC
When an automaker announces that it will offer factory-backed aftermarket upgrades, wheels and exhaust systems are the easiest place to start, but many stop there. Not so with Honda and HRC – their SEMA exhibit will also showcase “prototypes of future parts,” and these will include adjustable coilover suspension with camber plates, a big brake kit from Brembo with six-piston calipers, and a short-throw shifter. Those things are catnip to serious driving enthusiasts, and we can’t wait to see what else Honda and HRC offer next. Hopefully, pricing is as fun as the parts themselves.
