Forza Horizon 5 turns two years old today and, by sheer coincidence of the calendar lining up that way, it’s also the start of a whole new Series.
Series 27 will be a celebration of all things American — after all, Horizon began as a spin-off of the all-American Forza Motorsport series — with a Playlist crammed with events for American vehicles and appropriately American prizes (if a little bit Gran Turismo-like on occasion).
Accordingly, the series is officially called American Automotive and you’ll find you’ll need to use the whole fleet from Acura to Willys during the four-week event.
The mildest of world makeovers sees the free-roam return of the Horizon Oval Circuit. Although available as a circuit location permanently through its start point marker, the Stadium will transform into the Oval during regular play too this week.
Eight new cars will pop up this week as Playlist rewards, along with an Evolving World Accolade for collecting them all. In fact there’s quite the crop of Accolades this month as four new permanent course locations also make their debut.
The four, all Horizon Apex Road Racing point-to-point Trail courses, are here to stay and will be added into multiplayer event rotations too.
Additionally there’s also a new paid DLC pack — not included in any of the premium editions of the game — adding four further American vehicles.
Table of Contents
- Series 27: American Automotive
- Series 27 Summer/Wet Season Rewards
- Series 27 Summer Playlist: Forzathon Events
- Series 27 Summer Playlist: Season Events
- Series 27 Summer Playlist: Challenges
- Series 27 Summer Playlist: Monthly Events
- Series 27 Summer Bonus DLC Events
- Series 27 Summer Forzathon Shop
Series 27: American Automotive
The two Series rewards are very much American, and although neither is new to the game they are both Exclusives — you won’t be able to pick them up through the Autoshow.
At 80 points you’ll have another chance to score the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, Caddy’s answer to the BMW M3, last available in Series 19.
In order to create it, Cadillac stuffed a 3.6-liter, twin-turbo V6 into the nose of the otherwise relatively normal CT4 — replacing the four-pot turbo of the warmed-up CT4-V — to give the car 472hp and a lot of sideways.
For 160 points you can collect the more recent — in game terms — Ford F-150 XLT Lariat ’86, which showed up in Series 21.
It’s not the last word in performance, but the F-150 boasts relative luxury and a 188hp V8 to drag it across the landscape at your chosen speed. The Ford also benefits from Overlanding modifications if you wish.
Series 27 Summer/Wet Season Rewards
There’s of course a lot of V8 power going on this month, and the two season rewards this week are no different — if from quite separate points on the timeline.
Scoring 20 points will earn you the modern American supercar, in the shape of the Z06 variant of the Chevrolet Corvette C8.
Moving the engine from front to rear-mid has turned the sports car into a bona fide supercar, and the Z06 moves that bar on a fair chunk. That’s courtesy of a new flat-plane, 5.5-liter V8 which bumps power almost 200hp north of the 6.2-liter base model.
New engines are the theme for the cars, as the 1964 Plymouth Belvedere joins the ‘Vette as the 40-point offering.
This car saw the debut of the second-generation Chrysler Hemi, in its 426 form, for NASCAR racing. Indeed the Hemi Belvedere took the top three spots at the Daytona race, although somewhat controversially as it wasn’t available to the general public at the time.
Summer will run until 1430UTC on Thursday November 16, with Series 27 continuing on for three more weeks until the same time on Thursday December 7.
Series 27 Summer Playlist: Forzathon Events
A change to the usual Forzathon Weekly Challenge comes along this month, with not one but two featured cars each week. Own and drive either the 1965 or 2018 Ford Mustang GT to get Mustang Madness underway — and you’re not locked into your choice, as you can swap cars even within each stage.
Jump around next, by earning six stars at any Danger Signs in your chosen Mustang, before taking it to victory in any Street Race. Finally, and assuming it’s still the same shape, take a photo to complete the event.
Finishing off all four stages will earn you five Playlist points with an 80 Forzathon Point bonus, with the FP doubled if you own the Casa Solariega player house.
Weekly Challenge: Mustang Madness
- Car: Ford Mustang GT 2018 or Ford Mustang GT 1965
- Chapter 1: Own and drive either the ’65 or ’18 Ford Mustang GT
- Chapter 2: Earn six stars at any Danger Signs in the ’65 or ’18 Ford Mustang GT
- Chapter 3: Win a Street Race in the ’65 or ’18 Ford Mustang GT
- Chapter 4: Take a photo of the ’65 or ’18 Ford Mustang GT
- Reward: 5 points, 80FP
Seven themed Daily Challenges pop up during the week, at the rate of one each day unlocking at 1430UTC. You’ll have a full seven days to complete each one, and each is worth one Playlist point for each.
You’ll have no trouble with the first one, named American Automotive after the Series, as you’ll only need to own and drive any American vehicle…
Follow that up with a Round Trip and visit the Stadium. Again, this will come up naturally as you work through the Playlist so no special effort is needed.
It’s a Nice and Jeep one next, requiring only that you paint the body of any Jeep vehicle.
You’ll need to equip any set of canvas shoes in the Character Customizer next, to be an All Star.
After that it’s a case of Shoulda Woulda Cuda as you earn two stars at any Danger Signs in the Plymouth Cuda (and you could make it a twofer by pairing that with the Hot Wheels PR Stunt this week).
Charge Up next, and win any Street Race in any Dodge Charger.
Lastly there’s another easy one as you’ll need to earn a Burnout Skill (donuts are a quick way to do this) in any American car to complete Burnout in the USA.
Daily Challenges
- November 9 – American Automotive: Own and drive any American vehicle
- November 10 – Round Trip: Visit the Stadium
- November 11 – Nice and Jeep: Paint the body of any Jeep
- November 12 – All Star: Equip any canvas shoes in the Character Customizer
- November 13 – Shoulda Woulda Cuda: Earn two stars at Danger Signs in the Plymouth Cuda
- November 14 – Charge Up: Win a Street Race in any Dodge Charger
- November 15 – Burnout in the USA: Earn a Burnout Skill in any American vehicle
Series 27 Summer Playlist: Season Events
Eight solo events are available on the Playlist this week, with the now-regular two EventLabs, three PR Stunts, and two Seasonal Championships joined by a Horizon Arcade event — and you can complete a lot of it with just one Chevrolet…
You can complete Horizon Arcade solo or as a group in Horizon Life, as the requirements scale with the number of participants. However you wish to do it, just visit any of the pink Horizon Arcade zones (two appear at any one time) and complete three rounds of your choice from Air, Chaos, Drift, Speed, or Wreckage to earn three points.
Naturally it’s all about American cars on the PR Stunts, and you’ll need an S1 Class (801-900PI) car from the country for all three of them (and both the DLC expansion stunts too).
They’re not a stern test, but you’re going to need some off-road chops for the Punto Norte Drift Zone and its 75,000pt target, and the 88mph goal at the Costa Rocosa Speed Zone (annoyingly nowhere near Costa Rocosa). Either downforce on the road or incredible cross country speed will achieve the 180mph target for the Coast View Speed Trap.
As usual, the Seasonal Championships are three-race events against Highly Skilled AI that will require you to top the points table at the end of each championship. There’s five points and a bonus vehicle for winning each.
Dodge This is a Road Racing Series event for S1 Class (801-900PI) Chevrolet or Dodge vehicles, offering a Hummer H1 as a bonus prize. There’s also a Street Racing Series event, Oregon in 60 Seconds, for C Class (501-600PI) cars from the USA and a specific “Iconic Film Cars” hopper, offering a Dodge Charger ’15 reward.
Each EventLab races is worth the usual three points, along with a bonus reward for completion, and we’ll be visiting a new location for the first time in these events.
That comes with The Wild Wild West Street, a road course and city laid out on EventLab Island. You’ll need an S1 Class (801-900PI) Modern Supercar from the USA, and to watch out for many, many obstacles (including grabby tunnel walls) in this race against AI Drivatars. There’s a Super Wheelspin for the win.
Crop Circle Stadium Rally takes you back to the mainland for a custom route at the irrigation circles at De Otro Mundo, using the same course last used back in March for an EventLab… It’s a solo run, requiring any S1 Class (801-900PI) Hoonigan vehicle, with a 1977 Ford Escort for victory.
EventLab: Crop Circle Stadium Rally
- Car: S1 Class, Hoonigan
- Location: De Otro Mundo
- Challenge: Finish the race
- Reward: 3 points, Ford Escort ’77
EventLab: The Wild Wild West Street
- Car: S1 Class, Modern Supercar, USA
- Location: EventLab Island
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, Super Wheelspin
Horizon Arcade: Mini Games
- Car: Any
- Location: Horizon Arcade (any)
- Challenge: Complete three rounds of Horizon Arcade
- Reward: 3 points
Drift Zone: Punto Norte
- Car: S1 Class, USA
- Location: Bahia de Plano
- Challenge: 75,000pt
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Coast View
- Car: S1 Class, USA
- Location: Bahia de Plano
- Challenge: 180mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Zone: Costa Rocosa
- Car: S1 Class, USA
- Location: Dunas Blancas
- Challenge: 88mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Seasonal Championship: Dodge This!
- Car: S1 Class, Chevrolet/Dodge
- Location: Horizon Festival
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Hummer H1
Seasonal Championship: Oregon in 60 Seconds
- Car: C Class, Iconic Film Cars, USA
- Location: Guanajuato
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Dodge Charger ’15
You’ll find just the one multiplayer event this week, in the shape of the permanent fixture of The Trial. You’ll need an Xbox Live subscription to access the event on console — although it’s free to take part on PC.
It’s still a three-race series for a team of up to six humans against six “Unbeatable” AI racers, with the target being to score the most points you can as a team.
Each driver on each team earns 100pt for each opponent they beat but nothing for beating a team-mate — aside form a 50pt bonus for first overall as a tie-breaker. That means working together to help each other as high up the finishing order as possible, while obstructing the AI.
Pace will be high this week, as an S1 Class (801-900PI) event for Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang models, and while the hard-surface racing of Horizon Apex usually means more control, the fact that all three courses are brand new will mean unfamiliarity and chaos.
That said, the AI aren’t much of an issue here so you should win inside two races, earning ten points and a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, assuming everyone’s tuned their cars…
The Trial: Cars and Stripes
- Car: S1 Class, Chevrolet Camaro/Ford Mustang
- Location: Pantano de la Selva
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 10 points, Chevrolet Camaro ’18
Series 27 Summer Playlist: Challenges
Three challenges await this week, with a new Collectibles event and The Eliminator alongside the regular Photo Challenge.
You’ll also need Xbox Live (or to play on PC) for The Eliminator, but the challenge is the same one it always is: finish 30th or better.
This is often a case of just surviving for long enough to reach the top 30, but however you do it the event is worth two points and a Karaoke Emote.
This week’s Photo Challenge, #MeanStreets, requires a little racing. You’ll need to take a photo of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE 2018 during any Street Race to earn the reward of two points and a Spaik Short-Sleeved Shirt.
Finally the Collectibles event takes you to the Horizon Stadium to bonk into some giant American Footballs (or, as Americans would call them, footballs).
These car-sized objects would give a kicker an Achilles tear just from looking at them, so they’re hard to miss, littering the entire area in and around the stadium. Just smash six to claim three points, a “GOALLL” horn, and — in our case — a bugged message from Alejandra about Road Races…
Collectibles: Field Goal
- Cars: Any
- Location: Estadio Horizon
- Challenge: Smash six American Footballs near El Estadio Horizon
- Reward: 3 points, GOALLL Horn
The Eliminator: Battle Royale
- Cars: Any (provided)
- Location: The Eliminator
- Challenge: Finish 30th or better in The Eliminator
- Reward: 2 points, Karaoke Emote
Photo Challenge: #MeanStreets
- Cars: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE 2018
- Location: Street Racing Series (any)
- Challenge: Photograph the Camaro ZL1 ’18 in any Street Race
- Reward: 2 points, Spaik Short-Sleeved Shirt
Series 27 Summer Playlist: Monthly Events
Two new Monthly Events await for, well, the month, each taking in some of the new content in the Series — and a bit of a teaser for the new DLC pack.
The challenges are similar to Rivals events, as you chase down a ghost on a given course in a car provided to you. However you don’t need speed for this, just cleanliness; post a clean time on the course to get four points each — with one added to each season regardless of when you choose to complete them in the Series.
For Monthly Rivals you’ll be heading to the compact Bahia de Plano Circuit in the 1,300hp Saleen S7 LM, so watch out for those tight lefts. The new Lucid Air Sapphire is your ride for Linea Costera Sprint, one of the new Apex courses added to the game, with the added complexity that a point-to-point brings.
Forza EV: Linea Costera Sprint
- Cars: Lucid Air Sapphire (provided)
- Location: Costa Rocosa
- Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Monthly Rivals: Bahia de Plano Circuit
- Cars: Saleen S7 LM (provided)
- Location: Bahia de Plano
- Challenge: Post a Clean Time
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Series 27 Summer Bonus DLC Events
There’s a total of 14 bonus points available to players who own both of the DLC expansions — seven in each location — although they’re not a requirement to hit 100% Playlist completion.
Both PR Stunts take the same form as those on the main map, with an S1 Class (801-900PI) car from the USA required for the 350m leap at Hot Wheels Canyon Fire and the 110,000pt Joya Marron Drift Zone in Rally Adventure.
Neither are too tough, although you’ll want a lot of speed at HW as the target will have you bouncing off a piece of suspended track and ideally you need to clear that. There’s two points and a Super Wheelspin for each.
Each of the two Seasonal Championships is also of the same format, consisting of three-race series against Highly Skilled AI, with five points and a bonus car for topping the points table.
The American theme continues in Hot Wheels with Chevy Metal, a race for S1 Class (801-900PI) Chevrolets and awarding a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro for victory. It’s broader fare in RA with What It’s Cosworth for A Class (701-800PI) Rally Monsters and awarding an Escort RS Cosworth.
Hot Wheels Danger Sign: Canyon Fire
- Car: S1 Class, USA
- Location: Hot Wheels Giant’s Canyon
- Challenge: 350m
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: Chevy Metal
- Car: S1 Class, Chevrolet
- Location: Hot Wheels Giant’s Canyon
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Chevrolet Camaro ’15
Rally Adventure Drift Zone: Joya Marron
- Car: S1 Class, USA
- Location: Sierra Nueva Joya Marron
- Challenge: 110,000pts
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Rally Adventure Seasonal Championship: What It’s Cosworth
- Car: A Class, Rally Monsters
- Location: Sierra Nueva Joya Marron
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Ford Escort RS Cosworth ’92
Series 27 Summer Forzathon Shop
More American V8s make up the Forzathon Shop offering this week, and again in somewhat different circumstances.
In the first case that’s a seven-liter twin-turbo LS7 stuffed into the back of a modified Lotus Elise, creating the Hennessey Venom GT.
This was, although arguments will rumble on for all time, one of the fastest road cars ever made, being capable of a 270mph top speed — albeit only recorded in a single direction and the car never being produced in sufficient numbers.
There’s no such qualms about the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, which is a good, old-fashioned, big chunk of metal with a honking great engine in the front and a starring role in many a movie car chase.
At 550FP, the Hennessey isn’t a bad deal compared to its 1.2m credit price in the Autoshow, but at 210,000cr the Challenger is probably better value there than for 250FP here.
Other store items this week include the Classic Running Man Emote and USA Race Gloves at 75FP each. The Wheelspin (60FP) and a Super Wheelspin (150FP) occupy their regular spots.
See more articles on Forza Horizon 5 Season Change.
