New Forza Horizon 5 Update Is A Celebration Of American Motoring

The '66 Nova Super Sport may be familiar to Forza Horizon players. While this is the first time it will be available in FH5, the classic muscle car was a playable vehicle in Forza Horizon 4. We're glad to see it make a return to the franchise; it's the perfect car with which to cruise around Mexico.

With a powerful V8 engine, classic good looks, and rear-wheel drive, it should be an absolute pleasure to pilot on Mexico's virtual roads. If our memories from Horizon 4 serve correctly, we'd avoid the intricate mountain passes before fitting any handling upgrades - the Nova Super Sport is quite the handful.

Earn 20 points during Week 2 of the Festival playlist to unlock the Nova, available from November 16-23.

The Pontiac lineup grows with the addition of the '68 Firebird. Another muscle car to have returned from Forza Horizon 4, the Firebird certainly took its sweet time to make a comeback, but we're glad to see it again. In its top trim, the Firebird was fitted with a boisterous 6.5-liter V8 engine that, when new, put out a healthy 325 hp.

It's not the only Pontiac on the FH5 roster, as the iconic 1969 GTO Judge will also appear. Arguably one of the most desirable vehicles in the marque's history, it serves up 370 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. With the Firebird and GTO Judge included, the Pontiac lineup currently comprises eight vehicles.

The Firebird can be obtained from November 16-23 for 40 points during Week 2. The GTO Judge will be made available a week later for 40 points.

It's rather unusual for a racing game to introduce classic luxury cars, but we're overjoyed at the arrival of the 1962 Lincoln Continental. Built to chauffeur presidents, businesspeople, and diplomats, the stately sedan melds luxury and style in a way few other cars at the time could.

But it's no slouch. Under the vast hood, there lives a sizeable V8 (the smallest option was 7.0 liters) and more than 300 hp. The '62 Continental is the first Lincoln to be added to Forza Horizon 5, so there's a chance it could gain stablemates shortly. Other unlikely luxury cars in the game include the Bentley Turbo R and Cadillac XTS limousine.

The Continental will be available in Week 4 of the playlist (November 30-December 7) for 40 points.

Aside from the vehicles mentioned above, three additional new cars are being added to the game. This includes the 2023 Lucid Air Sapphire, one of the fastest-accelerating cars in the world. Unveiled last year, the Sapphire's tri-motor setup produces a startling 1,234 hp and 1,430 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph is dispatched in 1.89 seconds, while the top speed is pegged at 205 mph. This should be fun to drive when it's made available from November 23.

If you prefer your American cars to run on gasoline, the 1964 Plymouth Belvedere and Rossion Q1 will also make an appearance. The Belvedere has a massive 7.0-liter V8 engine that propels the rakish Plymouth at great speed, while the Rossion Q1, based on the Noble M400, is an all-American sports car boasting lovely handling and distinctive looks.

If you're willing to spend a few bucks ($4.99, to be exact), Forza is also introducing a new car pack with four DLC vehicles. The latest collection comprises the 2017 Saleen S7 LM, the 1961 DeBerti Ford Econoline 'Shop Rod', the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado LT Trail Boss, and the 2024 Czinger 21C.

The pack is worth it just for the Czinger 21C, a hardcore supercar powered by an electrified (and turbocharged) 2.9-liter V8. With up to 1,350 hp at the driver's disposal, this is a serious track machine - as its blistering Laguna Seca lap time proves.

Speak to seasoned Horizon 5 players, and they'll tell you the same thing: the game needs new racing tracks. Thankfully, developers have finally responded with four new Road Racing routes. All four are sprint-format races and range from 3.9 to five miles in length. We hope this continues and that additional Cross Country, Dirt, and Street Racing routes are added. On that note, the stadium oval racetrack returns in free roam and will be a permanent feature for the series' duration.

Lastly, there is more scope for personalization, with more than 20 new wheel designs up for grabs. Additionally, the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350R, 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA receive new custom body kits.

Recent Horizon 5upgrades have been significant and have injected the game with much-needed vibrancy. Let's hope things continue this way, as rival Gran Turismo is also pulling out all the stops.