---
title: "Honda’s New ‘Trailsport’ Name Hints at Purpose-Built Off-Roader in Development"
description: "And no, it's not a comeback for the minibike Honda made in the '70s."
date: "2020-07-24"
modified: "2020-07-24"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/35084/hondas-new-trailsport-name-hints-at-purpose-built-off-roader-in-development"
categories:
  - "Honda News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "honda"
---

# Honda’s New ‘Trailsport’ Name Hints at Purpose-Built Off-Roader in Development

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/07/2020-Honda-Passport-123-source-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

With the introduction of the [rugged Passport](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/26167/2019-honda-passport-elite-first-drive-review-the-call-of-the-wild-in-a-family-crossover>), Honda has made its intentions to stray further into the off-road game very clear. Now, it sounds like the company is planning to up its trail cred even more if a new trademark filing eventually gets put to use. Spotted by [*CarBuzz*](<https://carbuzz.com/news/honda-could-be-hunting-jeeps-with-new-trademark>), Honda filed an application laying claim to the trademark "Trailsport" with the [United States Patent and Trademark Office](<https://uspto.report/TM/90008874>) late last month.

As it happens, Honda actually already has a Trailsport in its back catalog. It was the moniker given to the [U.S.-spec ST90 minibike](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_ST_series_(minibike)>) back in the '70s. According to this new filing, however, the Trailsport name would cover "automobiles and automobile structural parts," a key detail when you're dealing with a corporation that not only builds cars and minibikes but also generators and snow blowers. How exactly Honda's auto division will apply the Trailsport name is anyone's guess, although we have a hunch it'll be on some sort of future off-road vehicle rather than, say, a long-wheelbase [Accord](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/14720/2018-honda-accord-first-drive-review-can-this-all-new-family-car-save-the-sedan>) variant.

![2020 Honda Passport](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1595611942173-2020hondapassport124-source.jpg>)
**Honda**

Given that they both end in "-sport," the Trailsport being introduced as a variant or even a trim-level of the aforementioned Passport seems pretty likely. Perhaps it'll be a universal trim name for all of Honda's SUVs and crossovers sort of like how [Trailhawk](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/24771/2018-jeep-compass-trailhawk-test-drive-review-a-crossover-thats-grown-from-rental-car-to-off-road-suv-star>) is for Jeep's lineup. "Honda HR-V Trailsport," phonetically at least, doesn't sound bad.

On the other hand, maybe Honda is preparing to come out with something completely out of left field like a safari-style "[Civic Type R](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/32292/these-are-all-the-changes-to-the-2020-honda-civic-type-r-and-why-they-matter>) Trailsport" with [hybrid all-wheel drive](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34810/next-gen-honda-civic-type-r-gets-395-hp-from-electric-rear-axle-report>), lifted suspension, chunky off-road tires, and matte-black cladding. Okay, that's probably (definitely) not it, but one can dream.

When we reached out to Honda, a company spokesperson declined to comment.

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## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

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