While the celebrations may be over, your 2023 driving adventures are already warming up as Mexico presents #FORDzathon, the latest series available now in Forza Horizon 5.
4 January 2023- Alan Walsh
Happy New Year! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday break and shared the joy of food, presents and playing video games with your friends and family.
Get ready for four weeks of Ford themed events and rewards on the Festival Playlist with some unique challenges along the way. You’ll experience the incredible impact Ford has made on automotive culture across Seasonal Championships, The Trial, Forzathon, Horizon Open, Photo Challenges and Seasonal PR Stunts.
In our Monthly Rivals, set your fastest lap time on the Horizon Baja Scramble while behind the wheel of the 2017 Ford #14 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing GRC Fiesta. Meanwhile, on Emerald Circuit, Forza EV showcases the incredible all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400, developed in collaboration between Ford Performance and RTR Vehicles, founded by Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr.
We’re also bringing back the Floating Lanterns collectibles in celebration of the New Year. These are available now through January 12. You’ll need to smash 50 of them to complete the Festival Playlist challenge and unlock “Nocturne” by Keeno for Horizon Mixtape. We recommend checking them out at night-time to see their illuminated glow.
In addition to the Ford reward cars, we’re also introducing two new-to-franchise cars and three cars returning from previous Forza games. Check them out!
2021 MG MG6 XPower
The 2021 MG MG6 XPower unleashes the true capabilities of the MG6 lineup with a straight-four 1.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine that’s fused with a high-power synchronous electric motor. The combined outputs of both give this plug-in hybrid a solid 300 horsepower, and it’s capable of reaching 62mph from zero in just six seconds. What’s more, the front-wheel-drive car has a combined peak torque of 354 lb-ft and a 10-speed electric drive gearbox while the wide grippy tires, unique elastic suspension, large shock absorbers and a stiffer spring stabilizer bar extends the car for more rigid, durable and extreme driving, so it’s the ideal machine for your next Forza Horizon 5 adventure. Its brakes are even racing grade with an innovative brake disc and upgraded front and rear caliper system bringing the car from 62mph to standstill in a short 33-meter sprint! These incredible numbers are paired with an aggressive eye-catching design as the sporty looks of the ultra-wide body aerodynamic kit and carbon fiber rear spoiler cement MG’s racing legacy all over this XPower, so you always know you’re in control of a beast and a truly modern interpretation of racing DNA!
2010 Renault Megane RS 250
Quintessentially French, the Renault Megane RS250 combines a serious helping of Renaultsport’s tuning expertise with the already stylish Megane. The blacked-out grille is the first clue this is not a run-of-the-mill Renault, and if you weren’t convinced right away you could peer at the red-painted brake calipers or the bright, yellow-faced tachometer for further confirmation. A twin-scroll turbocharger boosts output to a remarkable 250 horsepower, considering that the engine is only 2 liters. So, it’s perhaps no surprise that this fast Megane gets out of its own way with an emphatic bark from the center-exit sport exhaust. The RS250’s stiffened sport suspension also hunches the hatch down low over larger alloy wheels, improving the stance and the cornering at the same time. That’s not just lip service—the RS250 has some serious moves, helped in part by a limited-slip differential and an electrically assisted variable power steering system to keep the front wheels from churning under the ample torque.
2020 MG #20 MG6 XPower
Sure, the road-going version of this car is your overall reward for the #FORDzathon series; however, the racecar variant isn’t anything to snuff at. The great news is that it’s also coming to Forza Horizon 5, so you can have the best of both worlds. In addition to the special racecar livery, you’ll even get a boost to performance with a 350-horsepower front-wheel-drive output. It has a six-speed sequential gearbox, and the car utilizes a dual master cylinder brakes system with four-piston calipers reaching the front brakes and two-piston calipers sent to the rear brakes. Take it out to the Horizon Festival Circuit and set your fastest lap times so you can experience how nice it is to drive! Maybe you'll impress Tío Forza.
2016 Renault Clio R.S. 16 Concept
Is it stripped down due to the lack of air-conditioning and a back seat, or is it loaded since it’s packed with performance from the Renault parts bin? Disregarding the semantics and getting straight to the spec sheet delivers a clearer judgement. Renault has taken the 271-horsepower turbo four-cylinder from the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R model, along with key suspension and braking components and then stuffed them into the small package of the Clio. With the appropriate flare of the Clio Cup rear diffuser, a stout aero kit and actual flares to contain the massive 19-inch wheels this Concept has properly celebrates the 40th anniversary of the much-loved RS model.
2010 Renault Clio R.S.
Celebrating 20 years on the market as “the small car with big-car attributes,” the Clio has been a top-selling compact, replacing the Renault 5 line. While the Clio has always been appreciated by its exacting owners as precise, sporty and efficient, the Clio RS takes it to a new level. The 2.0 liter 16-valve is peppy and, thanks to its Brembo brake calipers, it will start and stop with the best in its class. Its distinctive nose is endearing and may even prompt others to grin back at it. The Clio RS suspension has been upgraded with widened front and rear tracks which deliver stable and grippy handling. At nearly twice the cost of a base Clio, you can rest assured the additional investment has been put to good use with your performance pleasure in mind.
What's Next
The next Forza Horizon 5 series update celebrates Japanese Automotive by introducing new cars, a new collectible and new EventLab props in the Blueprint Builder. Stay tuned for more details later this month.
