Latest Forza Motorsport 5 car pack leaves us scratching our head (in a good way) [w/video]
Wed, Jul 2 2014
Sure, there are the typical headliner cars – the Lamborghini Veneno and 2015 Audi S3 – that will appeal to the mainstream racing fan or auto enthusiast. But this latest car pack is so jammed full of nuggets of automotive weirdness that it's hard not to get excited.
The Hot Wheels pack has no shortage of racers, with a particular focus on historical offerings. A 1939 Auto Union Type D covers the pre-war era of Formula One, while a 1967 Lotus 49 and a 1952 Ferrari 375 represent post-war racing. For a modern twist, a Mazda USF2000 car slots in below the Indy Lights car from the Nurburgring booster pack.
From here, things get vintage and weird. There are a pair of delightfully offbeat coupes, in the form of a 1974 Toyota Celica GT and a 1973 Ford XB Falcon GT (here's hoping we get a vintage Holden Monaro in the future). Those two are joined by a 1956 Ford F-100, which your author already plans on converting into a dragster with vinyl flames down the side (because that's what all vintage pickups should be).
The new ride we're most excited about, though, is the 1983 GMC Vandura G-1500. Yes, that's the van from The A-Team, and we're sure it will prove to be an excellent canvas for the artists of FM5 to cover with airbrushed, fire-breathing unicorns and mystical, gray-haired wizards (or just poorly painted letters that read "Free Candy").
This latest car pack is the final monthly car pack for FM5, although Turn 10 is quick to point out that while the monthly updates are over, there will still be new batches of cars made available to gamers. As for the Hot Wheels pack, it's available now on Xbox Live for $9.99.
Scroll down for the press release from Turn 10 Studios, as well as a video of the newest additions to Forza Motorsport 5's vehicle roster.
Forza Motorsport 5 Hot Wheels Car Pack Now Available
Turn 10 Studios is bringing the Hot Wheels® Car Pack to "Forza Motorsport 5," available for download today. The pack features a collection of vehicles built from the ground up for the new generation that car fans can collect and customize while putting their virtual driving skills to the test.
The car pack includes a total of 10 beautiful vehicles, seven of which are all new to "Forza," including the Lamborghini Veneno, the Lotus Type 49, Audi Auto Union Type D. Players can experience Lamborghini's 50th anniversary car, the dramatic 2013 Lamborghini Veneno – a "First in Forza" exclusive -- or travel back in time with the 1939 Audi Union Type D, the pinnacle of pre-war racing, or the 1952 Ferrari 375, the car that started Enzo Ferrari's post-war racing dynasty. And if you're craving something brand new, try Audi's latest offering for the everyday enthusiast, the all-new 2015 Audi S3 Sedan. The rest of the pack includes additional appearances of your favorite cars from Toyota, Mazda, Ford, and more.
The Hot Wheels Car Pack is available now for $9.99 in the Xbox Live Marketplace, or at no additional cost for "Forza Motorsport 5" Car Pass owners. If you own the pack (or individual cars in the pack) you can add them to your garage without needing to spend additional in-game credits or tokens.
Now, let's take a look at all the cars in the Hot Wheels Car Pack:
2013 Lamborghini Veneno
A departure from traditional Lamborghini styling is represented in the Veneno. Radical bulging lines, a wing that looks like it belongs on an LMP car, and aero on top of more aero; these are just a few of the elements that make the most expensive production car in the world unique. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini, the Veneno is a street-legal racecar, loosely based on the Aventador. We say "loosely," because not only is the Veneno more powerful and higher-revving thanks to larger air intakes and a modified exhaust system, but its form is quite obviously its own. Cues have been taken from the Aventador in the Y-shaped headlights and taillights, but the Veneno is much more of a design experiment like the 2006 Miura concept, with a quality that is at once timeless and jaw-dropping in all categories, including its $4.1 million price tag. Lamborghini built one for themselves as a demo car, and sold three, each accented with a color from the Italian flag. The red accented car went to Antoine Dominic, owner of Lamborghini Long Island. The second, with green accents, went to prominent Lamborghini fan Kris Singh. The final Veneno, with white accents, was caught in Hong Kong on its way to Macau. Seeing one in the real world will most likely never happen, so take advantage of Forzavista and get as up close and personal with this stunning masterpiece.
1974 Toyota Celica GT
Before the Celica's introduction, Toyota was perceived as a builder of dull-but-worthy cars. The Celica's sporty appeal brought a new market and more appealing image to the Japanese automaker. Some called it a copy of the Mustang, but it was simply one of the many early 1970s compact coupes that came to America during the gas crunch. With its long-hood/short deck proportions, space for four and sporty styling (in the GT model), the Celica barged into America to compete with the likes of the Opel, Mazda RX-2, and Datsun 510. You could bump a standard Celica ST to a GT model for a mere $220. What you got was revised suspension rates that dropped the stance a quarter inch. The rest of the GT package is pure cosmetics: five-inch wheels, more open wheel arches, and GT-specific badging; all models bore the classic "smile" bumpers. Sure, economy came first and power output is modest but these Japanese gems are getting harder and harder to find these days.
1939 Audi Auto Union Type D
Potentially the most expensive car to ever go to auction at Christie's, the 1939 Audi Auto Union Type D was expected to sell for as much as $12 million. It was eventually acquired by Audi for an undisclosed price. There is so much history in the Auto Union Type D. To begin with, the car's design was produced by none other than Ferdinand Porsche. The rear-engine design delivered unpredictable oversteer and Porsche attempted to counter this with a swing half-axle suspension before following the Mercedes lead and going with a de Dion system. The twin-supercharger V-12 delivered amazing horsepower and was known to break the rear tires loose at 100 mph. Tire slippage was an issue addressed by another Porsche innovation, the limited-slip differential. All this technology was developed during a period of state-sponsored motor racing. The success of the Auto Union Type D was ended by the course of Germany and World War II. When the war was over, several Auto Union team cars were found by invading Russian Army forces and taken as spoils of war. These cars were disassembled and studied by the Soviets until, in the 1980s, American car enthusiast Paul Karassik tracked down chassis number 19 and many Type D original parts. Karassik handed over the collection to noted restoration shop Crosthwaite and Gardiner and the Type D was restored to its original form. With a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour and that thundering, whining V-12 behind the driver, there isn't another driving experience that can match the Auto Union Type D.
1967 Lotus Type 49
Take yourself back to what many refer to as the greatest era of open-wheel racing; the days when legendary racers Jim Clark and Graham Hill piloted the Lotus Type 49 to seemingly countless victories. Clark and Hill were the very best at their jobs, and the Type 49 represented the cutting edge of design technology. After a period of difficulty in the 3.0-liter formula, Colin Chapman went back to the drawing board. Chapman made the next step forward and convinced Ford to build an F1 engine. The result would be the Ford Cosworth DFV, and an advanced chassis using the engine as a stress-bearing structural member. Since then nearly all Formula One cars have been built this way and the Cosworth DFV would become the engine of choice through the 1970s. The 49 could be a handful to drive with the power of the Cosworth V8 delivering bursts of power that even Graham Hill had reservations about. Take your throttle control to the next level and give the Brabham BT24 something to fight with on equal ground with one of Colin Chapman's major advances in race car design.
2013 Mazda #7 Andretti Autosport USF2000
Looking to follow the Mazda Road to Indy? A USF2000 is a formative step toward Indy Lights and possibly even a true IndyCar racing career. Greats like Dan Wheldon and Sam Hornish Jr. stepped on this rung of the open-wheel ladder, as well as rising stars like Sage Karam. Driven currently in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, cars like the Andretti Autosport USF2000 provide drivers as young as 14 with a chance to prove their worth as well as an opportunity to progress to the next level – Pro Mazda. These Van Diemen Elan chassis are open-wheel, single-seat, open-cockpit racers with front and rear wings. Multiple tuning adjustments make them competitive on any track. They are powered by Mazda MZR 2-liter powerplants with somewhere in the neighborhood of 170 horsepower connected to a Hewland 5-speed sequential gearbox. These cars can hit speeds of 150 mph. Consider it a contrast to the Formula Ford racers but, instead of touring with the BTCC cars of England, these teams follow and race on the same tracks as IndyCars.
1952 Ferrari 375
In the early days of Formula One racing the Indianapolis 500, known then as the "500," was part of the points chase in the F1 driver's championship. Few European teams raced the 500 and, likewise few American drivers competed on the European circuits. The story of the 1952 Ferrari 375 is one that broke that mold. In those early days of Formula One racing, Alfa Romeo was the team to beat, and it was in the Ferrari 375 that Alberto Ascari garnered Ferrari's first grand prix win with a victory at Silverstone. Later wins in 1951 at the Nurburgring and Monza cemented Ferrari as a true contender at the highest level of racing. Enzo Ferrari was outspoken in his dislike of the Offenhauser V8s that dominated American race circuits and approved sending four teams with specially-built 375 Indy V12s to compete at the Brickyard in 1952. In one of the most technically diverse 500s of all time, where the pole-setting Cummin's Turbodiesel battled alongside the Offy supercharged V8s, Ferrari came to make their own case with a naturally-aspirated V12. Many argue that Alberto Ascari and the 375 Indy could have won, had he not spun and retired with a wheel failure on lap 40. The 375's overall pace was on par or better than the winner, an Offy. With Ascari behind the wheel, coupled with the V12's reliability and relatively meager fuel consumption, it was certainly possible.
2015 Audi S3 Sedan
If you are going to go small, why not go "big" and spin up the new Audi S3? In the battle for market share, Audi is the last to join the other German luxury marques in the compact class. While the S3 is primarily front wheel drive, it is of course equipped with quattro and very aptly delivers power to the rear axle via a Haldex clutch. This may be an entry-level S-badged Audi but the performance from the turbo-charged four-cylinder is spunky to say the least. Under full boost the turbo will peak around 29 psi, and the resultant forced induction generates nearly 300 horsepower and almost diesel-like torque from low RPM. If you've have had enough of the practicality of the standard American or Japanese sedans, Audi has the lure baited and is ready to net a new batch of driving enthusiasts with the S3.
1956 Ford F-100
Ford's F100 truck series was a hit in 1953 but didn't really hit its stride until the 1956 model – the best-looking and most powerful version of Ford's classic workhorse. Maybe it was the new grille. Or that wraparound windscreen. Fans of the blue oval had the optional V8, too, which boosted the F100 to a respectable 167 horsepower, plenty of power for a hard-working vehicle. The F100 went through additional revisions but, for Ford truck connoisseurs, the 1956 model remains a high point.
1973 Ford XB Falcon GT
This might be the most famous Australian car abroad. Not only has it been the star of a major motion picture set in a post-apocalyptic Outback wasteland (that would be "Mad Max"), it's also been celebrated as the well-loved first car of Australian actor Eric Bana in the 2009 documentary film "Love the Beast." As one of the first all-Australian designed cars from Ford, it was a no-brainer to send the XB Falcon racing. It battled the Holden LH Torana at the most famous Australian race, the Bathurst 1000 (although its very similar predecessor, the XA Falcon, had a bit better luck). However, race and film career aside, the Falcon stands on its own as a car worthy of admiration. With a snarling 300 horsepower 351 "Cleveland" V8 (an American design locally built in Australia and celebrated in large graphics on the side proclaiming "GT 351") rumbling under the twin-scooped hood, the GT has plenty of punch to back up its spot at the top of the XB Falcon lineup. With less than 1,000 XB GT hardtops produced, this iconic Australian muscle car is a rare bird.
1983 GMC Vandura G-1500
If the GMC Vandura isn't the most classic van of all time – and it may well be – it certainly has the coolest name. Be it a work van, party-wagon, or a rig worthy of toting B.A. Baracus and the rest of "The A-Team" around, this half-ton hauler has potential. Tout your best conversion van designs, model your favorite service company or just keep her plain Jane and go hit the track with the NASCAR engine conversion. Now in "Forza Motorsport 5" you can trick your Vandura out with even cooler options like a rooftop wing and front spoiler, making the Vandura that more at the ready to serve your next "vantasy."
Since 1968, Hot Wheels® has been passionate about creating thrilling vehicle experiences through innovative product and content. With a fan base of more than 41 million people, Hot Wheels® is the No. 1 vehicle property in the United States producing the coolest cars imaginable. The Hot Wheels brand began as a line of 16 1:64-scale die-cast vehicles; today, it has evolved into a true, global lifestyle brand for boys of all ages with segments that range from aftermarket parts to licensed apparel to branded digital content from Team Hot Wheels®, a real-life race crew of professional drivers performing over-the-top stunts. Check out the official Hot Wheels website for the hottest car games and racing videos, and be sure to visit the Hot Wheels® Facebook page.
Look for more announcements from "Forza" and Hot Wheels later this month. The Hot Wheels Car Pack is the final monthly car pack for "Forza Motorsport 5." While this is the last monthly car pack, "Forza" fans can look forward to more DLC cars coming your way in the weeks and months ahead. Stay tuned for more details!
Turn 10 Studios is bringing the Hot Wheels® Car Pack to "Forza Motorsport 5," available for download today. The pack features a collection of vehicles built from the ground up for the new generation that car fans can collect and customize while putting their virtual driving skills to the test.
The car pack includes a total of 10 beautiful vehicles, seven of which are all new to "Forza," including the Lamborghini Veneno, the Lotus Type 49, Audi Auto Union Type D. Players can experience Lamborghini's 50th anniversary car, the dramatic 2013 Lamborghini Veneno – a "First in Forza" exclusive -- or travel back in time with the 1939 Audi Union Type D, the pinnacle of pre-war racing, or the 1952 Ferrari 375, the car that started Enzo Ferrari's post-war racing dynasty. And if you're craving something brand new, try Audi's latest offering for the everyday enthusiast, the all-new 2015 Audi S3 Sedan. The rest of the pack includes additional appearances of your favorite cars from Toyota, Mazda, Ford, and more.
The Hot Wheels Car Pack is available now for $9.99 in the Xbox Live Marketplace, or at no additional cost for "Forza Motorsport 5" Car Pass owners. If you own the pack (or individual cars in the pack) you can add them to your garage without needing to spend additional in-game credits or tokens.
Now, let's take a look at all the cars in the Hot Wheels Car Pack:
2013 Lamborghini Veneno
A departure from traditional Lamborghini styling is represented in the Veneno. Radical bulging lines, a wing that looks like it belongs on an LMP car, and aero on top of more aero; these are just a few of the elements that make the most expensive production car in the world unique. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini, the Veneno is a street-legal racecar, loosely based on the Aventador. We say "loosely," because not only is the Veneno more powerful and higher-revving thanks to larger air intakes and a modified exhaust system, but its form is quite obviously its own. Cues have been taken from the Aventador in the Y-shaped headlights and taillights, but the Veneno is much more of a design experiment like the 2006 Miura concept, with a quality that is at once timeless and jaw-dropping in all categories, including its $4.1 million price tag. Lamborghini built one for themselves as a demo car, and sold three, each accented with a color from the Italian flag. The red accented car went to Antoine Dominic, owner of Lamborghini Long Island. The second, with green accents, went to prominent Lamborghini fan Kris Singh. The final Veneno, with white accents, was caught in Hong Kong on its way to Macau. Seeing one in the real world will most likely never happen, so take advantage of Forzavista and get as up close and personal with this stunning masterpiece.
1974 Toyota Celica GT
Before the Celica's introduction, Toyota was perceived as a builder of dull-but-worthy cars. The Celica's sporty appeal brought a new market and more appealing image to the Japanese automaker. Some called it a copy of the Mustang, but it was simply one of the many early 1970s compact coupes that came to America during the gas crunch. With its long-hood/short deck proportions, space for four and sporty styling (in the GT model), the Celica barged into America to compete with the likes of the Opel, Mazda RX-2, and Datsun 510. You could bump a standard Celica ST to a GT model for a mere $220. What you got was revised suspension rates that dropped the stance a quarter inch. The rest of the GT package is pure cosmetics: five-inch wheels, more open wheel arches, and GT-specific badging; all models bore the classic "smile" bumpers. Sure, economy came first and power output is modest but these Japanese gems are getting harder and harder to find these days.
1939 Audi Auto Union Type D
Potentially the most expensive car to ever go to auction at Christie's, the 1939 Audi Auto Union Type D was expected to sell for as much as $12 million. It was eventually acquired by Audi for an undisclosed price. There is so much history in the Auto Union Type D. To begin with, the car's design was produced by none other than Ferdinand Porsche. The rear-engine design delivered unpredictable oversteer and Porsche attempted to counter this with a swing half-axle suspension before following the Mercedes lead and going with a de Dion system. The twin-supercharger V-12 delivered amazing horsepower and was known to break the rear tires loose at 100 mph. Tire slippage was an issue addressed by another Porsche innovation, the limited-slip differential. All this technology was developed during a period of state-sponsored motor racing. The success of the Auto Union Type D was ended by the course of Germany and World War II. When the war was over, several Auto Union team cars were found by invading Russian Army forces and taken as spoils of war. These cars were disassembled and studied by the Soviets until, in the 1980s, American car enthusiast Paul Karassik tracked down chassis number 19 and many Type D original parts. Karassik handed over the collection to noted restoration shop Crosthwaite and Gardiner and the Type D was restored to its original form. With a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour and that thundering, whining V-12 behind the driver, there isn't another driving experience that can match the Auto Union Type D.
1967 Lotus Type 49
Take yourself back to what many refer to as the greatest era of open-wheel racing; the days when legendary racers Jim Clark and Graham Hill piloted the Lotus Type 49 to seemingly countless victories. Clark and Hill were the very best at their jobs, and the Type 49 represented the cutting edge of design technology. After a period of difficulty in the 3.0-liter formula, Colin Chapman went back to the drawing board. Chapman made the next step forward and convinced Ford to build an F1 engine. The result would be the Ford Cosworth DFV, and an advanced chassis using the engine as a stress-bearing structural member. Since then nearly all Formula One cars have been built this way and the Cosworth DFV would become the engine of choice through the 1970s. The 49 could be a handful to drive with the power of the Cosworth V8 delivering bursts of power that even Graham Hill had reservations about. Take your throttle control to the next level and give the Brabham BT24 something to fight with on equal ground with one of Colin Chapman's major advances in race car design.
2013 Mazda #7 Andretti Autosport USF2000
Looking to follow the Mazda Road to Indy? A USF2000 is a formative step toward Indy Lights and possibly even a true IndyCar racing career. Greats like Dan Wheldon and Sam Hornish Jr. stepped on this rung of the open-wheel ladder, as well as rising stars like Sage Karam. Driven currently in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, cars like the Andretti Autosport USF2000 provide drivers as young as 14 with a chance to prove their worth as well as an opportunity to progress to the next level – Pro Mazda. These Van Diemen Elan chassis are open-wheel, single-seat, open-cockpit racers with front and rear wings. Multiple tuning adjustments make them competitive on any track. They are powered by Mazda MZR 2-liter powerplants with somewhere in the neighborhood of 170 horsepower connected to a Hewland 5-speed sequential gearbox. These cars can hit speeds of 150 mph. Consider it a contrast to the Formula Ford racers but, instead of touring with the BTCC cars of England, these teams follow and race on the same tracks as IndyCars.
1952 Ferrari 375
In the early days of Formula One racing the Indianapolis 500, known then as the "500," was part of the points chase in the F1 driver's championship. Few European teams raced the 500 and, likewise few American drivers competed on the European circuits. The story of the 1952 Ferrari 375 is one that broke that mold. In those early days of Formula One racing, Alfa Romeo was the team to beat, and it was in the Ferrari 375 that Alberto Ascari garnered Ferrari's first grand prix win with a victory at Silverstone. Later wins in 1951 at the Nurburgring and Monza cemented Ferrari as a true contender at the highest level of racing. Enzo Ferrari was outspoken in his dislike of the Offenhauser V8s that dominated American race circuits and approved sending four teams with specially-built 375 Indy V12s to compete at the Brickyard in 1952. In one of the most technically diverse 500s of all time, where the pole-setting Cummin's Turbodiesel battled alongside the Offy supercharged V8s, Ferrari came to make their own case with a naturally-aspirated V12. Many argue that Alberto Ascari and the 375 Indy could have won, had he not spun and retired with a wheel failure on lap 40. The 375's overall pace was on par or better than the winner, an Offy. With Ascari behind the wheel, coupled with the V12's reliability and relatively meager fuel consumption, it was certainly possible.
2015 Audi S3 Sedan
If you are going to go small, why not go "big" and spin up the new Audi S3? In the battle for market share, Audi is the last to join the other German luxury marques in the compact class. While the S3 is primarily front wheel drive, it is of course equipped with quattro and very aptly delivers power to the rear axle via a Haldex clutch. This may be an entry-level S-badged Audi but the performance from the turbo-charged four-cylinder is spunky to say the least. Under full boost the turbo will peak around 29 psi, and the resultant forced induction generates nearly 300 horsepower and almost diesel-like torque from low RPM. If you've have had enough of the practicality of the standard American or Japanese sedans, Audi has the lure baited and is ready to net a new batch of driving enthusiasts with the S3.
1956 Ford F-100
Ford's F100 truck series was a hit in 1953 but didn't really hit its stride until the 1956 model – the best-looking and most powerful version of Ford's classic workhorse. Maybe it was the new grille. Or that wraparound windscreen. Fans of the blue oval had the optional V8, too, which boosted the F100 to a respectable 167 horsepower, plenty of power for a hard-working vehicle. The F100 went through additional revisions but, for Ford truck connoisseurs, the 1956 model remains a high point.
1973 Ford XB Falcon GT
This might be the most famous Australian car abroad. Not only has it been the star of a major motion picture set in a post-apocalyptic Outback wasteland (that would be "Mad Max"), it's also been celebrated as the well-loved first car of Australian actor Eric Bana in the 2009 documentary film "Love the Beast." As one of the first all-Australian designed cars from Ford, it was a no-brainer to send the XB Falcon racing. It battled the Holden LH Torana at the most famous Australian race, the Bathurst 1000 (although its very similar predecessor, the XA Falcon, had a bit better luck). However, race and film career aside, the Falcon stands on its own as a car worthy of admiration. With a snarling 300 horsepower 351 "Cleveland" V8 (an American design locally built in Australia and celebrated in large graphics on the side proclaiming "GT 351") rumbling under the twin-scooped hood, the GT has plenty of punch to back up its spot at the top of the XB Falcon lineup. With less than 1,000 XB GT hardtops produced, this iconic Australian muscle car is a rare bird.
1983 GMC Vandura G-1500
If the GMC Vandura isn't the most classic van of all time – and it may well be – it certainly has the coolest name. Be it a work van, party-wagon, or a rig worthy of toting B.A. Baracus and the rest of "The A-Team" around, this half-ton hauler has potential. Tout your best conversion van designs, model your favorite service company or just keep her plain Jane and go hit the track with the NASCAR engine conversion. Now in "Forza Motorsport 5" you can trick your Vandura out with even cooler options like a rooftop wing and front spoiler, making the Vandura that more at the ready to serve your next "vantasy."
Since 1968, Hot Wheels® has been passionate about creating thrilling vehicle experiences through innovative product and content. With a fan base of more than 41 million people, Hot Wheels® is the No. 1 vehicle property in the United States producing the coolest cars imaginable. The Hot Wheels brand began as a line of 16 1:64-scale die-cast vehicles; today, it has evolved into a true, global lifestyle brand for boys of all ages with segments that range from aftermarket parts to licensed apparel to branded digital content from Team Hot Wheels®, a real-life race crew of professional drivers performing over-the-top stunts. Check out the official Hot Wheels website for the hottest car games and racing videos, and be sure to visit the Hot Wheels® Facebook page.
Look for more announcements from "Forza" and Hot Wheels later this month. The Hot Wheels Car Pack is the final monthly car pack for "Forza Motorsport 5." While this is the last monthly car pack, "Forza" fans can look forward to more DLC cars coming your way in the weeks and months ahead. Stay tuned for more details!
Featured Gallery Forza Motorsport 5 Hot Wheels Car Pack
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By Brandon Turkus
See also: Autoblog Podcast #387, Yearly auto recall record demolished in 6 months, Ferrari delivers one-off F12 SP America in New York.