Huh. Looking back, I pulled off a pretty decent haul with this:
The November GTPlanet Car Pack
The XC90 and RSR showed up, and the Z4 M Coupe did too (even if it's still locked away somewhere...). Time for a sequel!
The June Uniqlo Car Pack
2018 Aston Martin #95 Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE
We said goodbye to the V12 Vantage GT3 in a recent car pack; now, it's time to say hello to its replacement (of sorts). The new-shape Vantage will take the battle to the GTE world, and join its brother in the Forza GT category of FM7. It uses a racing version of the shared Mercedes turbo V8; something not even Merc itself does with the AMG GT.
1991 Ford Taurus SHO
It's hard to believe now, but the original Taurus was a hugely important car for Ford. It was an ultra-modern replacement for its main sedan lineup, and the company sold them by the boat load. The SHO was the unexpected sporty model. Thanks to a partnership with Yamaha, it sported a unique 3.0-liter V6, capable of 220hp. That would be a serious amount for front-drive cars a decade later, nevermind the rest of the Taurus lineup, which topped out at 140hp. If it's good enough for Conan O'Brien, it's good enough for us!
1993 Porsche 968 Clubsport
Before there was Boxster, the 968 anchored the lower end of Porsche's sports car lineup. The Clubsport was the pinnacle of Porsche transaxle development. Boasting a huge (3.0-liter) four-cylinder, this car had just shy of 240hp and weighed only 2900lbs. Like any good limited-edition Porsche, they're both rare and expensive these days — but that's not a problem in Forza!
1992 Mazda #77 Mazda Motorsports RX-792P
Quick, name a Mazda prototype race car that isn't the 787B. We'll wait. After rotaries were outlawed at La Sarthe, Mazda continued to use that mad four-rotor engine in its IMSA prototype, while the Le Mans crew moved to a Judd V10-powered model. Neither proved very successful, with the IMSA cars suffering various reliability issues. It had a career best of second at the Glen, but in the end, this was the final evolution of that stunning engine. Let its unique scream live on in-game.
2018 Cadillac #10 Konica Minolta DPI-V.R.
Cadillac utterly dominated the 2017 IMSA DPI Championship. This car emerged victorious in the end, but the brand also snatched up second and third for the season. For 2018, in the face of new competition from Acura, the team has shrunk its engine down. Going from 6.2 liters to 5.5, the goal is a more manageable power delivery. It seems to be working; currently, a Cadillac is sitting at the top of the standings.
2018 Audi S5
The last S5 soldiered on for nearly a decade. As a testament to how well it aged, the new car is a quiet evolution of its design. But it's under the skin where the big changes take place. Thanks to increased aluminum usage and a smaller V6 engine, it lops over 100lb off the last car's curb weight. That engine is co-developed with Porsche, producing a similar 450hp figure but a boatload more torque than the V8 it replaces. It's never felt so good to go green.
1982 AMC Eagle SX/4 Sport
We've heard your complaints about there being too many modern crossovers in the game. So we've went back — to the original. The Eagle SX/4 predates the crossover craze by a solid decade and a half. The raised ride height should offer enough distance to drown out the cries of the kids.
THIS MONTH'S FORZATHON PRIZES:
In addition to this month's Uniqlo Car Pack, we've also lined up some events for players to win some cars. You'll note two new models are up for grabs — one is a new-to-franchise car, while the other is a returning model from Forza's past.
Road to Le Mans - May 29 – July 1
Put in 15 laps at Le Mans to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Bentley's win, and earn the Speed 8.
Battered and Bangled: The Sequel - May 29 – July 1
Win a race in a Fiat to earn the 2000 Fiat Coupe.
All The Way up! - May 29 – July 1
Top 120mph in an E class car to earn the 2018 Volkswagen up! GTI.
Pig Hunters Incorporated - November 24-27
Win 5 races in Mercedes-Benz vehicles to earn the 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3.