Forza Horizon 5 News

[p]A new battle starts at the Horizon Backstage Vote this week. Enjoy a duel of muscle, power, and charisma with both pairs featuring an American muscle car and a charming partner. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Up first, a top tier drag racer equipped with a massive 7-liter V8 engine – the 1964 Plymouth Belvedere. Bred to race, the Belvedere did a complete sweep of the 1964 Daytona NASCAR race taking all three podium finishes. This light-weight muscle car is craving to run between stop lights and ovals! Turn down the volume a little with the 1965 MINI Cooper S Forza Edition, an all-electric custom version of the classic MINI. This grippy all-wheel drive MINI 235 bhp, probably more powerful than you thought and has a lot more surprises in store! [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]An icon of the 60’s from front to back, the 1968 Pontiac Firebird headlines the second team joining this week’s Vote. This bird's wings come in the shape of its 6.6-liter V8 engine that produces 343 bhp and 430 lb⋅ft of torque. The Firebird screams the best parts of the muscle car era like the chorus of a classic rock song. A military vehicle turned into a symbol of freedom and fun, the 1973 Volkswagen Thing is meant to explore the roads less traveled and make every journey feel like an adventure. [/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Get ready for the ultimate road-trip through Mexico while behind the wheel of a JDM legend. This week’s Festival Playlist celebrates fifty years of heritage with the all-new 2023 Nissan Z. By earning 20 PTS in the Summer “Wet” season, you can put its 3-liter twin-turbo V6 to the test and experience 400-horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque! [/p][p]The 2023 Nissan Z also features in our Monthly Rivals, where you’re invited to post a clean lap time on the Plaza Circuit. These monthly events are available until the series ends on Thursday, March 26. That’s also the same date that you’ll need to have unlocked the overall series reward cars by: [/p]

• [p]80 PTS: 2022 SUBARU WRX [/p]

• [p]160 PTS: 2018 Nissan Sentra NISMO [/p]

[p][/p][p]This week’s Festival Playlist events kickstart our celebrations of Japanese Automotive culture in Forza Horizon 5. With iconic JDM machines in the spotlight, here’s everything that’s happening at the Horizon Festival until Thursday, March 5: [/p]

• [p]20 PTS: 2023 Nissan Z [/p]

• [p]40 PTS: Backstage Pass [/p]

[p]Over in the Forzathon Shop, find the 1998 Nissan R390 (GT1) and the 2017 Acura NSX, as well as the Cat Meow Car Horn and the Japan Race Gloves. [/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Join actor and car enthusiast Sung Kang on a super-charged experience to Tokyo, Japan! You and one companion (21+) can join an amazing experience curated by Sung Kang specially for car lovers. Your adventure through Japan will include: [/p]

• [p]Cruising in a JDM car at night [/p]

• [p]Drifting Masterclass with Drift Icons [/p]

• [p]Tuning & Livery Design at Liberty Walk [/p]

• [p]Auto Retail & Museum Tour [/p]

• [p]Tokyo Drift Location Tour—in the Tokyo Drift cars [/p]

• [p]Walk & Snack Tour with Sung Kang [/p]

• [p]Go head-to-head with a Sumo wrestler [/p]

• [p]Exclusive advance screening of Sung Kang’s new film ‘Drifter’ [/p]

[p]To enter, wishlist Forza Horizon 6 and submit an entry form at [/p][p]www.forzahorizonsweepstakes.com[/p][p] by March 23. No purchase necessary. For official rules and eligibility details, visit here. [/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Icons of other eras return faster, leaner, and stronger for this duel at the Horizon Backstage. Choose your favorite pair of powered-up reeditions and add the winners to your garage next week using your Backstage Passes.  [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Mean looks and an even meaner engine make the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series a threat for everyone on the track. A huge V8 engine capable of producing 720 horsepower sits in front of this car and allows the GT Black Series to reach 202 mph. A small scorpion with a huge sting completes this week’s first pairing. The 2017 Abarth 124 Spider takes the best parts from a Miata and rubs them with Italian seasoning to create a turbocharged convertible that’s as fun to drive as it is great to look at! [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Witness the return of a legend with the 2021 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4. This limited-series hybrid supercar uses the raging bull’s signature V12 engine and EV technology to produce 814 bhp. The Countach can reach its top speed of 217 mph in the blink of an eye! The 2012 Eagle Speedster screams vintage from every angle you look at it. The Speedster brings the slickness of the Jaguar E-Type brought to a modern era and unleashes the full potential of the British classic. [/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p] [/p][p]Even though this car’s name will ring a few bells and bring back memories, the new 2023 MG MG7 is like nothing you have seen before. [/p][p]The classic MG went a complete redesign that you can clearly see with that new body that features a deployable spoiler that also widens as it rises.  [/p][p]The MG7’s new features do not stop in aerodynamics and cosmetic changes, it also includes a 1.9-liter engine that can amass 257 bhp. [/p][p]Your next favorite sports saloon has come out of China is available to unlock for only 20 PTS on the final week of Lunar New Year until February 26. [/p][p]The last week of celebrations for the new dragon year has arrived. These are the challenges and rewards that come with it:  [/p][p][/p][p]SERIES REWARDS  [/p]

• [p]80 PTS: 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 6 [/p]

• [p]160 PTS: 2015 MG MG3 [/p]

[p]SPRING REWARDS  [/p]

• [p]20 PTS: 2023 MG MG7   [/p]

• [p]40 PTS: Backstage Pass [/p]

[p] [/p][p]Give Lunar New Year a proper sendoff visiting the Drift Arena at night and witnessing the incredible drone show featured in this series.  [/p][p]During daytime, the drones will turn into lanterns and show a dancing dragon in the Stadium’s sky. [/p][p]Take a break from burning rubber and screeching tires to watch the shows one last time! [/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][p] [/p]