Get ready for a Festival Playlist that highlights the incredible car culture of Japan. The Forza Horizon 5 Japanese Automotive series begins on Thursday, February 26 and through the next four weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to unlock the 2023 Nissan Z, 1965 Toyota Sports 800, 1995 Toyota MR2 GT and 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR4.
26 February 2026- Playground Games
Manifest Good Luck and Great Pictures
The Lucky Cat collectible makes a comeback to bring you good luck and great fortune this series. Find it in Aerdódromo en la Selva during the Winter “Dry” season of Japanese automotive. Every week of the series, a different Photo Challenge will task players to find and capture the hidden Japanese Stone Lantern! Snap a shot each week to get a different reward and score #Fozathon Points!
Festival Playlist
We’re celebrating Japanese Automotive culture with JDM inspired car rewards and events on the Festival Playlist! In addition, the Showcase Remix available in the Summer “Wet” season called “A Twist of Freight” will see you take on a unique variation of the “Catch Me If You Canyon” train race. You’ll be driving the 2000 Nissan Silvia Spec-R fitted with a Rocket Bunny kit during a cloudy, atmospheric evening sunset.
2022 SUBARU WRX
Sporting the new Subaru 2.4-liter engine is the 2022 Subaru WRX, the latest entry in the Japanese brand’s rally- inspired sports sedan car series. This redesigned version of the WRX produces 271 bhp and can go from 0 – 100 kph in about 5.7 seconds. As is tradition with this line of cars, the 2022 version of the WRX comes with all-wheel drive to accelerate as fast as possible and use every one of the 258 lb-ft of torque it makes. Equip this car with the finest off-roading customizations and create your own rally champion.
2023 Nissan Z
When the last 370Z rolled off the Nissan factory line in 2020, there was much anticipation by enthusiasts for the car that would eventually replace it. Fast forward to today, and its successor is finally here, and now you can take it for the ultimate road-trip across Mexico. To celebrate fifty years of heritage in the Z line, the 2023 Nissan Z features design elements inspired by previous Z series models. This includes a front design with a rectangular radiator grille based on the Datsun 240Z, while the rear of the car harkens back to the Nissan 300ZX (Z32) with horizontal taillights in a black trim. While its stored history is all over the car, everything else has been newly developed for a fully modernized driving experience with a 400-horsepower, 3-liter twin-turbo V6 under the hood and 350 lb-ft of torque.
1995 Toyota MR2 GT
In 1991, the MR2 received a full redesign that made it sportier and more Ferrari-like in appearance. By ‘95, due to rising prices and insurance premiums, it was ending its production run, making this model especially prized by collectors. The GT featured a 2.0-liter 241-horsepower five-speed engine, capable of 228-lb-ft of torque, mounted behind the seats that put it on equal footing with cars like the Ferrari 348. The MR2 name would make its return when Toyota attached it to the Spyder convertible.
1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
A turbo-charged, four-cylinder, 4WD, four-wheel steering, four-door sedan, sold in limited numbers makes the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 a treasured piece of JDM history. In fact, without it, the later Lancer Evo might not even exist. The Galant VR-4 was the platform that Mitsubishi developed its impeccable AWD system and, in the process, won no less than six rally championships. It also makes for a barrel of thrills to drive. The VR-4 ignites off the line, cuts into corners, and brakes with precision. The engine develops potent horsepower put to the wheels via a center differential that detects wheel slippage and re-directs power to the axle with the most traction. Four-wheel steering engages at speeds more than 31 mph and turns the rear wheels up to 1.5 degrees to enable optimum turn angle and cornering stability. One look at the VR-4 equipped with the bull bar, the huge halogen fog lamps and roof vents and dressed in its classic Mitsubishi race livery make it obvious this car means business.
1965 Toyota Sports 800
Thanks to the meticulous attention to detail by aerodynamic stylist Shozo Sato and aircraft designer turned Toyota engineer Tatsuo Hasegawa, the body of the 1965 Toyota Sports 800 was one of the most aerodynamic of its era with thin-gauge steel in the monocoque chassis and strategic use of aluminum across select body panels, the stowable Targa roof and seat frames. This allowed the car to reach beyond the elusive 100mph mark. While only 3,131 units were manufactured, the car was never officially distributed outside of Japan, and only 300 examples were produced in a left-hand drive configuration, some of which did eventually see their way to the United States. Powered by a 0.8-liter air-cooled 790 cc horizontally opposed two-cylinder boxer engine, the Sports 800 unleashes 45 horses at 5,400rpm. The iconic two-door coupé was manufactured at Kanto Auto Works in Japan through October 1969 for a total production lifespan of four years.
Horizon Backstage Vote
Get ready for another 4 weeks of fierce showdowns in the Horizon Backstage Vote. Plan your votes ahead and may the best cars win. Week 1 (February 26 – March 5):
1964 Plymouth Belvedere and 1965 MINI Cooper S Forza Edition
VERSUS
1968 Pontiac Firebird and 1973 Volkswagen Thing
Week 2 (March 5 – March 12):
1976 Volkswagen SP-2 and 1953 Morris Minor Series II Traveler
VERSUS
1975 DS Automobiles DS 23 and 1965 Morris Mini-Traveller
Week 3 (March 12 – March 19):
2016 NIO EP9 and 2015 Honda Ridgeline Baja Trophy Truck
VERSUS
2019 RAESR Tachyon Speed and 2015 BMW X6 M
Week 4 (March 19 – March 26):
2022 Rivian R1T and 1986 Lancia Delta S4
VERSUS
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R and 1986 Audi #2 Audi Sport quattro S1
What's Next
We are fast approaching the next Festival Playlist! Take a look at both options and pick your favorite rewards to unlock. Voting starts on February 26, don’t miss out!
Rami’s Racing History
Series Rewards
80 PTS: 2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupé
160 PTS: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
Seasonal Rewards
Summer: 1939 Maserati 8CTF
Autumn: 1971 Porsche #23 917/20
Winter: 1990 SUBARU Legacy RS
Spring: 2010 BMW M3 GTS
Backstage Passes available each week as the 40 PTS reward
Horizon Road Trip
Series Rewards
80 PTS: 2021 Audi RS e-tron GT
160 PTS: 1991 Bentley Turbo R
Seasonal Rewards
Summer: 2008 Aston Martin DBS
Autumn: 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
Winter: 2021 Audi RS 7 Sportback
Spring: 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale
Backstage Passes available each week as the 40 PTS reward
