Drift Pony Cars on Sunset Peninsula in Forza Motorsport

Forza Motorsport Update 13 celebrates the first anniversary of Forza Motorsport with 3 all-new Mustang cars completely free to players, as well as a surprise for Car Pass holders.

Get ready to go sideways in your favorite Pony cars with Drift Mode and test your top speeds and high-speed cornering skills on an iconic, fan favorite oval track as Sunset Peninsula makes its long-awaited return to Motorsport.

Plus, new options for Practice and Qualifying are now available for your Private Multiplayer races – a top community request since launch.

This is Mustang Month in Forza Motorsport, and across the next four weeks, you will get to dive into the rich history, variety and uniqueness that the Ford Mustang has brought to the worlds of motorsport and automotive culture.

Game Improvements and Release Notes

Forza Motorsport Update 13 rolls out for download starting Monday, October 14 on Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam. Spotlight cars and new in-game events will begin on Wednesday, October 16 starting at 5:00 PM PT (12:00 AM UTC on Thursday, October 17).

Below is a snapshot of the fixes and improvements included with Update 13. Head on over to Forza Support to view the full release notes:

• Added the ability to Spectate after joining a race in progress in Private Multiplayer.

• Improved Drivatar AI trailing ability especially in braking zones, making AI less prone to rear ending other cars.

• Updated multi-car aero model to reduce downforce impact on leading cars, widen the aero wake near the car, smooth transitions near wake edges and reduce drafting induced aero balance changes.

• Changes to Virginia International Raceway (VIR): Reduced the number of collidable objects on the track; improved grass quality; and tuned road wetness for better consistency.

• Added a new “Enter Text” button to Livery Editor font menus (all upper and lower letters tabs in the Apply a Vinyl Shape/ Vinyl Select menus), enabling you to type characters with a keyboard or virtual keyboard and automatically create a vinyl group containing those characters for faster creation of numbers, words, names, and phrases.

• Fixed an issue where Featured Rivals and VIP Rivals events had dynamic rubbering set to 0% by default. It should now be 100% by default.

Update 13 also introduces an “all clear” sound to the Car Proximity Radar, as well as updated car audio for the following vehicles based on community feedback:

• 2022 Pagani Huayra R

• 2014 Chevrolet #3 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R

• 2001 Acura Integra Type R

Our goal is to ensure that any new cars added to Forza Motorsport are built authentically and uniquely. We are updating our authoring techniques and pipelines so that we can update as many of the most egregious car audio issues as possible. The initial work on this is now complete and from Update 13 onwards, all cars added to the game will be built to this newer specification.

In addition, a number of cars that have been flagged as inauthentic, both internally and by the community, will be updated over time. Please stay tuned for additional updates on this in the months ahead.

Sunset Peninsula Returns to Motorsport

Available for the first time since Forza Motorsport 4, Sunset Peninsula returns to Forza Motorsport with five layouts that challenge the skills of both drivers and automotive power, all while featuring a fresh coat of paint that maintains the classic racing experience this track is known for.

Built in 1958 on the west coast of Florida, the oval circuit includes long straights and challenging banked turns, making it a great choice for testing top speeds and mastering high-speed cornering.

All-out horsepower is tested to its max at Sunset Peninsula’s 2.44-mile tri-oval, while the 2.78-mile full circuit combines the oval with technical, yet flat infield sections, where even a slight mistake in driver judgment could suddenly halt your race.

Plus, look out for Featured Rivals and VIP Rivals events throughout Mustang Month where you will have the opportunity to set your fastest lap times on the track. In addition, all five layouts of Sunset Peninsula are available in Time Attack and these circuits can also be enjoyed in Career, Multiplayer and Free Play.

Our next track release for Forza Motorsport is Bathurst, which we plan to release with Update 15 in mid-December. That will be our last track addition for 2024, with more tracks to follow in 2025.

Free Mustangs to Celebrate One Year of Motorsport

Editor's Note (Oct. 14, 2024): We have updated the paragraph below to provide additional clarity on how the Mustang RTR vehicles can be obtained by players.

October 10 marked the one-year milestone for Forza Motorsport, and to celebrate the occasion, we are adding 3 free, all-new Mustang cars. Slide across the finish line in the 2024 Ford #25 Mustang RTR, 2024 Ford #88 Mustang RTR, and 2024 Ford #130 Mustang RTR. These cars will be gifted to all players starting Wednesday, October 16 at 5:00 PM PT (Thursday, October 17 at 12:00 AM UTC). A reward notification will be displayed in the game menu once the cars have been added to your garage. They can be also acquired from the Showroom using in-game credits.

We also have a surprise car for Car Pass holders: the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Players who own the Forza Motorsport Car Pass, Deluxe Edition, Premium Edition or Premium Add-Ons Bundle will receive this bonus car upon logging into the game starting Wednesday, October 16 at 5:00 PM PT (Thursday, October 17 at 12:00 AM UTC).

2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Galloping to the track, it’s the latest, biggest, and meanest stallion we have seen: the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

As soon as you pop this car’s hood you will be greeted with a very delightful badge, one that says “5.0”. The emblem is not there only for decoration, it’s to remind you of the massive 5.0-liter V8 naturally aspirated Coyote engine that drives this car forward and powers it with 500 horsepower.

Enjoy the reckless charge of this Dark Horse! Complete with a 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, as well as an updated braking system to excel its performance on the track.

Slide Sideways and Score Points in Drift Mode

Get sideways! Drift is now a Game Type option in Free Play and Private Multiplayer. This includes a new Best Drift scoring option for the highest single continuous drift score (even across multiple laps) in addition to Best Lap and Total Score. Any segment of any track can be drifted for a score. Keep it going: Crossing the finish line will automatically bank your lap score and restart scoring for a new lap.

A new Drift Zone tab has been added to Rivals, where you can compete for the highest Drift lap score leaderboards in several new events featuring great car and track pairings. Top the leaderboards across Drift 101, 102, and 103, all of which will be permanently available. Updates will also include limited-time Drift Rivals, and for Mustang Month, you can show off your skills in both A Class Drift and Mediterranean Drift. Feel free to upgrade and tune for the best drift setup but remember, only rear wheel drive cars can be used for these events.

Drift scoring has also been added to Meetup Game Type options for private Drift Meetups. We are planning to add public Drift Meetups in a future update.

The Gameplay & HUD Settings menu includes an option to turn on Drift scoring HUD in other modes, however it will remain off in Featured Multiplayer races. The Drift Camera setting now applies to in-car and follow cameras when enabled.

Immerse yourself by drifting in some of the same cars used in official Formula Drift events. Today’s update adds these competition cars to the Showroom: the 2020 Formula Drift #151 Toyota GR Supra, 2006 Formula Drift #43 Dodge Viper SRT10, and 1997 Formula Drift #777 Nissan 240SX.

In addition, unlock the 2015 Formula Drift #13 Ford Mustang from the Challenge Hub by playing 5 Drift Races or by scoring 20,000 points or more in a single lap on Catalunya – National Circuit in the Mediterranean Drift Rivals.

Game Tips for Drifting

Drift Score is based on speed, angle, line, and distance of each drift and must be successfully “banked” to count. Too much rotation, leaving the track, or collisions can break a Drift Score. To bank a drift, stop drifting without breaking your score.

Use rear wheel drive (RWD) cars. Turn off Traction Control (TCS) and Stability Management (STM) and use Manual shifting or Manual w/Clutch. Install the Drift Springs and Dampers upgrade for up to 60 degrees of tunable Steering Angle.

There are many ways to start a drift but maintaining it requires a skillful balance of throttle input and countersteer. Here are a few:

• Power Over: Enter a turn slower than normal, then power down hard. When the back swings out, begin to countersteer and balance throttle. Best when your car has much more power than grip.

• Inertia Drift: Enter a turn faster than normal, then brake hard as you turn. When the back slides out, release the brake and get back on the throttle quickly while countersteering out of the turn.

• E-Brake Drift: The most well-known method. When you start a turn, release the throttle and tap the e-brake. Wait for the rear to slide, then throttle down and countersteer into the slide.

• Clutch Kick: When using Manual with Clutch shifting, as you enter a turn, press the clutch without letting off throttle, then release the clutch. This will break traction and make the rear slide.

• Scandinavian Flick: As you approach a corner, steer away from the turn, then turn in quickly toward the apex, making the rear slide out as vehicle weight transfers from inside to outside. Braking before turning in can also help by transferring weight back to front.

Practice and Qualifying in Private Multiplayer

Practice & Qualifying has been added to Private Multiplayer: Find this new option in the Event Setup menu under Event Format along with options for Practice time limit, number of Qualifying laps, and Intermission Period.

You may choose to be a spectator for the race that follows practice by selecting Spectate Race from the Pre-race or Pause menu at any time during the practice session.

Improvements to Forza Race Regulations

Forza Race Regulations now displays the severity of a collision in UI notifications, replacing the ‘Avoidable contact’ messaging. Now, individual FRR infractions will have maximum penalty times depending on the collision severity, reducing cases where players were over penalized before.

Off-Track notifications will now also display their FRR ruling: Small Time Gain, Large Time Gain, or Max Time Gain. Note that the penalty time incurred is a scaling multiplier on time gained, so penalty amounts vary for each. If no time was gained, there is no penalty issued.

Update 13 also includes general accuracy improvements based on the updated data capture system we introduced in the previous update.

Relive History in the Mustang Tour

Nothing can diminish the impact that Pony cars have had on the current generation of Mustangs. The Mustang Tour invites you to experience the Last of the Pony Cars, Colt Classics, Street Stallions and Wild Horses.

Last of the Pony Cars

Celebrate the Last of the Pony Cars in a series focused on modern-day Pony cars and how their time has come to an end. In 2024, the Ford Mustang became the last remaining Pony car still in production, while the Challenger and the Camaro ended production in 2023; despite the Camaro's final model year being 2024. Compete with the 2024 Ford Mustang GT against a current fleet of production Pony cars to celebrate the end of an era.

Colt Classics

Celebrate the golden age of Mustang and the muscle car world by driving against some of the most iconic vehicles in Forza Motorsport that date from the 1960s through 1970s. Experience what racing against these legacy era cars was like before the modern resurgence of the Mustang.

Street Stallions

As the legacy of the Mustang continued in the 1980s through 1990s, the style and aesthetic of the Mustang changed with the introduction of the iconic ‘fox body’ styling, but the power and grace remained. Use the classic 1995 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R to compete against the 1980s and 1990s era of muscle cars.

Wild Horses

Mustang crashed into the twenty-first century with a variety of powerful representatives, high-end variations and special trims, from the new GT500s to the Saleen S302 Black Label. Race with the 2013 Ford Mustang GT500 against other Mustangs released after 2010.

Mustang Tour Reward

Experience the history and evolution of Pony cars in the Mustang Tour. Complete all four series in the Mustang Tour in Career before November 27, 2024, or 10 Mustang Challenge Series races in Featured Multiplayer during Mustang Month, to earn the new-to-Motorsport 2018 Saleen S302 Black Label. Feel its immense power at Sunset Peninsula – Full Circuit in the Reward Showcase.

With 800 horsepower and 687 lb-ft of torque, the 2018 Saleen S302 Black Label is designed to deliver its power in a different way to your typical muscle car. Instead of all the torque coming in large, low range chunks, it’s delivered at a staggeringly high 5,200 RPM with all 800hp at 6,000 RPM. It’s fair to say, it’s quite unique compared to the usual V8 powerhouses.

Race Your Favorite Mustangs in the Open Tour

Once you have ‘broken in the horses’ in the Mustang Tour, check out the Open Class Tour to continue the story of these iconic Pony cars. Check it out under the Featured tab in Career mode.

Open Class Tour is where you can resume the journey of your favorite tuned cars, and each update to Forza Motorsport refreshes the Open Class Tour with new events and a different reward car. Cars you’ve already upgraded in a different Builders Cup series can be further levelled up in the Open Class Tour.

The Open Class Tour features six series, each with three races, that range from D Class to R Class. Upgrade your favorite Mustangs – or any cars of your choosing – and use them to complete all six series in the Open Class Tour before November 6, 2024, and you will receive the 1970 Ford #15 Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am, new-to-Motorsport with Update 13.

You can also unlock the 1970 Ford #15 Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am by completing 10 Multi-Class Series races in Featured Multiplayer. Driven by Parnelli Jones, this Pony racer made headlines when it won the 1970 Trans-Am season championship in a historic victory. Check out this Ford Performance blog for a detailed race-by-race overview that authentically captures the most unforgettable highlights and stories of this over fifty-year-old moment in the motorsport history books.

Spotlight Cars and VIP Discounts

Spotlight cars are featured in the Showroom every week. These cars correspond to the available in-game events and can be acquired with a temporary 30% discount using in-game credits.

Mustang Month introduces two new-to-Motorsport Spotlight cars to the Showroom: the 2024 Ford Mustang GT and the 1967 Shelby GT 500.

2024 Ford Mustang GT

The all-new front-engine, rear-wheel drive 2024 Ford Mustang GT is fitted under the hood with a powerful 5-liter naturally aspirated Coyote V8 engine.

The beastly heart inside this modern Pony car is paired with a 6-speed Getrag manual transmission and in the real world, features an innovative, industry-first remote rev function on the key fob. Start up the engine at the press of a button and show off its loud exhaust notes whenever you’re outside of the car. Now that’s a flex.

This seventh-generation Mustang GT is capable of producing 486 horsepower and 418 ft-lb of torque, which also makes it an unrivalled contender for the track. Did we mention that in second gear, the manual V8 will reach 80mph?

1967 Shelby GT 500

Driving off a huge victory at Le Mans, Ford took a bunch of the lessons they learnt and applied them to a performance-focused version of their next powerhouse, the 1967 Shelby GT500.

Powering Carrol Shelby’s latest creation was a 7.0-liter V8 engine called the Cobra Le Mans, a for-the-road version of the already great 428-cubic inch V8 engine made by Ford. It was borrowed from a police interceptor but modified with a set of twin Holley 600 4-barrel carburetors.

The GT500 came with 355 bhp and a rumble that very few cars of the era could match. It could run a quarter mile in 15 seconds and go from 0-100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds.

Designed by Charlie McHose, the exterior of this car matched its speed and loudness, distinguishing it from other Mustang models. Its new fiber glass front and back, as well as headlights, and characteristic grill made this car a street racer with a very sportive, modern look. It also had disc brakes on the front as standard.

Mustang Month will showcase four Spotlight cars in the Showroom, one per week. These Spotlight cars can be used in the Mustang Tour and Spotlight Rivals, as well as to complete Challenge Hub objectives.

Forza Motorsport VIP Members also benefit from a 15% three-week discount in the Showroom on the 2006 Formula Drift #43 Dodge Viper SRT10.

In addition, VIPs receive an exclusive 15% discount on a car every week in the Showroom. In Update 13, these cars will be steadfast Mustangs which can be entered into the Ford Mustang Challenge Series in Featured Multiplayer – available all throughout Mustang Month.

Here’s a look at the cars that will be going on sale for VIP Members over the next few weeks:

Exclusive VIP discounts and VIP Rivals events require VIP Membership, available in the Premium Edition or Premium Add-Ons Bundle, sold separately.

Ford Mustang Challenge Series in Featured Multiplayer

Experience the evolution of an automotive icon by jumping behind the wheel of your favorite Mustang era in a decade-spanning multi-class series. Unmissable Pony showdowns await in the Ford Mustang Challenge Series available in the Featured tab throughout Update 13.

There is also a new MX-5 Cup Spec Series. Ideal for beginners and veterans alike, the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Cup is built for single-make racing series, which makes it a thrilling contender in this specialized MX-5 Cup event.

Available under the Open Events tab is a new Cycled Class Series that rotates events daily between P, D, X, C, and E Classes. With the introduction of this series, which will remain available in the game after Mustang Month, players will get to experience a wider range of classes every week. In addition, the dedicated B, A, S, and R Class Series will continue to cycle weekly as before.

Update 13 also sees the first Community Choice selections as part of the Featured Multiplayer event rotation: GTX Sportscar Series, Forza Proto-H, and GTP/C Series. These events were decided on by player voting on the Forza forums; stay tuned for additional voting opportunities for the Community Choice Series in future updates.

This update also includes some additional changes to Featured Multiplayer. We have moved the weekly, cycled one-make series from the Spec tab to Featured tab, increased the race length of Medium races to target 18 minutes (previously 16 minutes), updated Tire Wear Scalar for all Short and Medium length races to 4x – making tire wear consistent across Short, Medium, and Long races, and we have updated the Multi-Class Series to focus solely on ABCS.

Here’s a look at the Featured Multiplayer calendar of upcoming events for Mustang Month:

Starting with Update 13, there will no longer be a Spotlight Series. This change will help improve concurrency across all other available Featured Multiplayer Series. We will continue to showcase Spotlight cars in Career, Rivals, and the Challenge Hub.

Following the release of Update 12, we made the decision to remove Forza GT4 from active Featured Multiplayer events due to the lack of cars and competitiveness within the series. In its place, the Forza Touring Car Spec Series remains available. In the future, we intend to explore alternatives to bring back Forza GT4 racing into Featured Multiplayer, for example, through a GT Multi-Class variation. We will also revisit the standalone Forza GT4 Series once we have a larger car roster to accommodate this Spec Division.

Pony Up in Steadfast Rivals Events

Shave off every possible millisecond from your lap times in Rivals with new events for Mustang Month.

Featuring long straights and challenging banked turns, Sunset Peninsula Raceway is great for testing top speeds and mastering high-speed cornering. Just how fast can you complete a lap on the Full Circuit? That’s your challenge in this month’s Featured Rivals, which puts you behind the wheel of the classic 1982 Ford #6 Zakspeed Roush Mustang IMSA GT.

VIP Members can also show off their driving proficiency at Sunset Peninsula – this time on the Club Reverse Circuit – in the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Forza Edition.

We also have a spooky new event just in time for Halloween. Take back the night in the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat at Maple Valley in appropriately 'spooky' conditions. Successfully pass at least 100 Rivals on the leaderboard to unlock the Los Muertos Driver Suit from the Challenge Hub.

Buckle up for a new Legends vs Leaderboard Rivals event, this time with Mobil 1 Pro Driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Race the 1974 Toyota Celica GT at Maple Valley – Reverse Circuit and set a lap to get 50,000 credits! Head to mobil1gaming.com to see Juan Pablo set the lap and more.

As always, look out for Spotlight Rivals featuring the weekly Spotlight cars: the 2024 Ford Mustang GT, 1967 Shelby GT 500, 1995 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R, and 2013 Ford Shelby GT500.

Update 13 is also the first time that Drift Rivals are available for competition. As noted above, while Drift 101, 102, and 103 events will always be available, future updates will also bring their own Drift Rivals – with A Class Drift and Mediterranean Drift available throughout Mustang Month.

Here’s a closer look at this packed Rivals calendar for Mustang Month:

Collect Your Rewards in the Challenge Hub

We introduced the Challenge Hub in September alongside Mid-Engine Month in Forza Motorsport. Get ready for new objectives and rewards in Mustang Month with refreshed Featured Challenges and Weekly Challenges available for you to complete.

Credits, cars and race suits are all up for grabs in challenges available across Career, Featured Multiplayer and Rivals.

As a reminder, each update’s reward cars can be obtained by either completing the Featured Tour in Career or by playing a specified number of races in Featured Multiplayer – it’s your choice!

Here’s a breakdown of the Challenge Hub objectives and rewards available for Mustang Month:

Featured Challenges

Weekly Challenges

Week 1: Oct. 16 5:00 PM PT – Oct. 23 5:00 PM PT | Oct. 17 12:00 AM UTC – Oct. 24 12:00 AM UTC

Week 2: Oct. 23 5:00 PM PT – Oct. 30 5:00 PM PT | Oct. 24 12:00 AM UTC – Oct. 31 12:00 AM UTC

Week 3: Oct. 30 5:00 PM PT – Nov. 6 4:00 PM PT | Oct. 31 12:00 AM UTC – Nov. 7 12:00 AM UTC

Fire Breathing Stallions Await!

That’s Mustang Month in Forza Motorsport! We hope you enjoy racing and drifting the new Pony cars included with Update 13, whether it’s on Sunset Peninsula or any of the other tracks in the game. Many of the features and additions in this update were inspired directly by feedback and input from the community. Continue sharing your ideas for new cars, tracks and features with us over on the Suggestions Hub, and they might be considered for inclusion in future updates.

Stay tuned for details on Update 14 in November! Until then, step behind the wheel of your favorite Mustang, kick it into high gear and drift it around the turns of your favorite circuits.

We’ll see you on the track!