gamescom 2021: Forza Horizon 5 Debuts Cover Cars

It’s been a truly exciting summer for open world driving fans. We introduced Forza Horizon 5 to the world only a few short months ago and since then, we’ve shared frequent deep dives into various aspects of the game on our Let's ¡Go! livestreams. Be it a tour of Mexico’s distinct biomes, the investments we’ve made into car audio or a detailed look at how we bring those awe-inspiring HDR skies to life, we set out to take you along for the journey on our road to Mexico – but this trip is far from over.

Today, during the gamescom 2021 Xbox Stream we unveiled the cover of Forza Horizon 5 which captures the fun and beauty of Mexico and celebrates its authentic culture and incredibly diverse landscapes. Therefore, it’s only fitting that our cover cars are just as distinctive, and we’re excited to share them with you.

Up first is the Mercedes-AMG ONE. Reaching a maximum speed of over 350 km/h, it’s the first car to include Formula 1 hybrid technology almost one-to-one from the track to the street. We’re putting the AMG ONE’s innovative power into your hands so you can explore the streets and roads of Mexico in an unprecedented way at near limitless speeds.

Joining it is the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands. Its rugged engineering means it’s primed to deliver an exhilarating off-road experience over Mexico’s vast terrain. Built with the toughness of an F-Series truck and the performance spirit of Mustang, the Bronco is fully-equipped to go beyond the beaten track and explore every inch of Mexico and its vibrant biomes.

We’re thrilled that Forza Horizon 5 players will get behind the wheel of this year’s most hotly anticipated vehicles thanks to our great partnerships with Mercedes-AMG and Ford. No matter where your next expedition leads, from those lush jungles and sandy deserts to the treacherous peak of an active volcano, you’ll find the perfect companion to take advantage of Mexico’s beautiful, expansive land within this unique, stand-out duo.

For more information on the Forza Horizon 5 cover cars, please visit the official websites of Mercedes-AMG and Ford.

Both of our cover cars were shown in spectacular fashion across eight-minutes of brand-new, pure, unadulterated Forza Horizon 5 gameplay that debuted on-stream. This opening segment of the game, which we call the “Initial Drive” is merely a glimpse at the exotic rides, the gorgeous environments and the adventurous nature that awaits ahead of your arrival to the Horizon Festival. In case you missed it, this is your opportunity to experience what you can expect on Nov. 9.

Your first taste of Mexico has you take control of the Ford Bronco Badlands atop the active, snow-capped Gran Caldera volcano – the highest point ever in a Forza Horizon game, as you break loose from the bay of a cargo plane and traverse onto the desert. You’ll want to drive fast, as there’s no foretelling just how dangerous this trek will be. Your onboard GPS will lead you to the Baja off-road racing circuit, where the Bronco is certain to feel at home. Especially handy if there’s an ongoing race that you’ll need to seamlessly blend into upon making your surprise entrance.

Afterwards you’ll take over the 2020 Corvette Stingray C8 sporting an aggressive StreetHunter widebody kit, as it tears up the asphalt towards a towering dust storm in the Mexican farmland – a familiar sight from our Forza Horizon 5 reveal trailer. Like every transition during the “Initial Drive,” you’ll hit the ground upon parachuting your ride out of a cargo plane – it’s how we like to do things here in Mexico. Put your foot on the pedal, don’t look back and head on into the eye of the storm.

Make way for the flamingos as you crash through dense jungle tree canopy at breakneck speeds in the Porsche 911 Desert Flyer. This tropical forest is dappled in vegetation as sun rays perpetuate through the lush greenery, so don’t forget to pack a pair of sunglasses beforehand. The best news is that any dirt your car picks up from the mud trails is certain to be washed off by those streams of crystal-clear water extending all over the jungle. By the time you reach the hidden temple, the 911 Desert Flyer will be sparkling like new.

But of course, this experience wouldn’t be complete without the Mercedes-AMG ONE. Get ready to master this truly stunning, high-performance hybrid at full speed along Mexico’s sun-baked rocky coast all the way to the Horizon Festival at the heart of our Living Desert. This is a drive like no other, so buckle up – it’s going to be a fast one and according to air traffic control, the cargo plane you just dropped out of has deemed the nearby drag strip as its runway, so you best steer clear of its landing.

Last, but not least, we also unveiled the Xbox Wireless Controller – Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition. From the powder party aesthetic on the front to the racing-inspired textured dual grips on the triggers and back – a first for a limited-edition Xbox controller – it was designed to feel like you’re holding a perforated style performance car steering wheel.

It also features a transparent yellow finish, with a custom-colored, visible rumble motor and lighting effects that play off the Xbox nexus button.

Inside the box you’ll also find a redeemable code for some exclusive Forza Horizon 5 in-game digital goodies that stylishly match your new controller, including the 1932 Ford De Luxe Five-Window Coupe Forza Edition featuring a playful party livery, a cosmetic festive shirt for your character and a victory emote that lets you set off a powder firework to celebrate the Festival. Pre-order it now.

Get ready to lead breathtaking expeditions as you experience the striking contrast and beauty of Mexico in the largest, most diverse open world ever seen in a Forza Horizon game. Forza Horizon 5 is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam, as well as Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Game Pass. The Horizon Festival welcomes everyone to Mexico this November 9 for the ultimate Horizon Adventure! We can’t wait to see you all there.