The second anniversary series of Forza Horizon 5 continues with a new Playlist today, as autumn comes to the fictional Mexican landscape.
Series 27, or “American Automotive”, is all about American cars. Although not wall-to-wall Americana, the majority of events for the entire four-week period either require or award American vehicles.
That’s all the excuse needed to bring back the Horizon Oval Circuit, which is ordinarily available for a unique race but this month comes back in free-roam too.
Naturally the eight new cars this series are all American too, all arriving as Playlist rewards and accompanied by an Evolving World Accolade for collecting them all. Other new Accolades pop up for racing at the four brand-new, and permanent, Horizon Apex course added this month.
If that’s not quite American enough for you, there’s a new paid DLC pack adding four further American vehicles — and bear in mind that this isn’t included in any of the special editions of the game.
Table of Contents
- Series 27: American Automotive
- Series 27 Autumn/Storm Season Rewards
- Series 27 Autumn Playlist: Forzathon Events
- Series 27 Autumn Playlist: Season Events
- Series 27 Autumn Playlist: Challenges
- Series 27 Autumn Playlist: Monthly Events
- Series 27 Autumn Bonus DLC Events
- Series 27 Autumn Forzathon Shop
Series 27: American Automotive
While both of the Series rewards are returning cars, neither is available in normal gameplay so it’s a good chance to earn them if you’ve missed them from their previous appearances.
That starts at 80 points with the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, a hot version of a hot version, of a mid-sized sedan.
Caddy put a four-pot turbo into the CT4 to create the CT4-V, but that wasn’t quite enough to take the fight to the German super-saloon trio from BMW’s M division, Audi’s RS offices, and AMG.
Out came the four and in went a six, a 3.6-liter, twin-turbo V6 to be exact. With 472hp now on tap, the Blackwing is right in the tire tracks of the M3, RS4, and C63 — while laying down some of its own.
The other returnee is a mite slower, with 160 points earning you the Ford F-150 XLT Lariat ’86.
This boasts a 302ci Windsor V8 under its bullnose, although it’s putting out a relatively unstressed 188hp. That means it won’t pull the horizon towards it, but it will plod over pretty much anything at a constant speed.
You can also add the Overlanding modifications to the Ford if you wish, just to add a splash of style.
Series 27 Autumn/Storm Season Rewards
There’s two new vehicles in the season rewards all series long, and this week we’re looking at 1960s classics.
Up first for 20 points is the Chevrolet Nova SS — or “Super Sport” in the Microsoft filter-friendly parlance — which adds to the Nova fleet in FH5.
The earlier sibling of the ’69 Nova SS, it’s both smaller and sports a more humble three-box body style — even in the two-door “sport coupe” body of this hot model.
However the 350hp, 5.4-liter V8 is anything but humble, and should drag the Nova across the landscape at some pace.
Another sibling pops up for 40 points in the shape of the ’68 Pontiac Firebird. This joins its Trans-Am twin in the game, sporting the same 6.6-liter V8 good for 345hp.
Autumn will run until 1430UTC on Thursday November 23, with Series 27 continuing on for two more weeks until the same time on Thursday December 7.
Series 27 Autumn Playlist: Forzathon Events
The two-car theme for the Forzathon Weekly Challenges remains, as you’ll need either the 2021 Ford Bronco or its 1975 counterpart — and you can swap cars even within each stage — to take part in Bucking Broncos.
Own and drive either vehicle to get the event started, then head out to get three stars at any Trailblazers to complete the next stage — we find City Escape in Guanajuato a nice, easy one for this.
Follow that up by winning a Cross Country race in either Bronco, and close the event out with a Kangaroo Skill — earned for completing two Air Skills (for getting airborne and landing safely) in quick succession.
Complete all four stages to earn five Playlist points and 80 Forzathon Points, with the FP doubled if you own the Casa Solariega player house.
Weekly Challenge: Bucking Broncos
- Car: Ford Bronco 2021 or Ford Bronco 1975
- Chapter 1: Own and drive either the ’75 or ’21 Ford Bronco
- Chapter 2: Earn three stars at any Trailblazers in the ’75 or ’21 Bronco
- Chapter 3: Win a Cross Country Race in the ’75 or ’21 Bronco
- Chapter 4: Earn a Kangaroo Skill in the ’75 or ’21 Bronco
- Reward: 5 points, 80FP
Additionally there’s seven Daily Challenges, mostly with an American theme, arriving as you’d expect at the rate of one a day during the season. Each unlocks sequentially at 1430UTC, with a full seven days to complete for one Playlist point a pop.
It’s Brake Time up first, as you’ll be required to change the color of your car’s brake calipers.
Make a Circular Composition next, and take a photograph at the Stadium.
Complete round three of any Horizon Arcade event — Air, Chaos, Drift, Speed, or Wreckage — in any Lexus to earn the Nexus of Lexus.
There’s a Sting in the Tail next, as you earn a Drift Skill in any Stingray model of the Chevrolet Corvette.
Dodge the dysentery as you go for the Oregon Trailblazer; just earn two stars at any Trailblazer — and you could combine this with the Weekly Challenge above.
Similarly you could pair the Bronco tasks with Like an Eagle, requiring you to land any jump that lasts more than three seconds, using any American car.
Finally avoid being a flop in a game of Texas Holden, by smashing seven cactuses in any Holden vehicle.
Daily Challenges
- November 16 – Brake Time: Change the color of your brake calipers
- November 17 – Circular Composition: Take a photo at the Stadium
- November 18 – Nexus of Lexus: Complete Round 3 of any Horizon Arcade in any Lexus
- November 19 – Sting in the Tail: Earn a Drift Skill in any Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
- November 20 – Oregon Trailblazer: Earn two stars at any Trailblazers
- November 21 – Like an Eagle: Land a jump lasting over three seconds in any American car
- November 22 – Texas Holden: Smash seven cactuses in any Holden
Series 27 Autumn Playlist: Season Events
There’s a bit of an odd look to the solo Playlist events this week as the PR Stunt count is cut to just two — alongside two EventLabs and three Seasonal Championships.
The American theme of the PR Stunts remains, requiring an A Class (701-800PI) Jeep Trailhawk for both, with each awarding two points and a Super Wheelspin.
Again, they’re not incredibly difficult, as the Jeep should be able to deal with the 130mph target at the Mudflows Speed Trap with ease, and not be fazed by the water approaching the always easy Boardwalk Danger Sign and its 100m goal.
Chaos reigns in the EventLabs this week, with both featuring significant alterations to the landscape of Mexico proper and both requiring A Class (701-800PI) cars from the USA — although in different categories.
You’ll need a Super Saloon for Midtown Urban City (as opposed to those other types of cities?), which is a point-to-point route comprising multiple 90- and 180-degree corners and a few weird jumps and drops. Complete the course to earn three points and a Jeep Cherokee ’14.
Motorinsanity Stormy Bay is pretty much as described, looking like a space station made of traffic signs, tents, and wood has crashed into Playa Azul, during a storm. You’ll need an Unlimited Offroad car for this and pick something good through water as there’s a lot of it; there’s multiple routes and you can straight-line a lot of it with care, for three points and a Super Wheelspin.
There’s two Cross Country events and a Road Racing challenge in the Seasonal Championships this week. With one exception, each is a three-race event against Highly Skilled AI, requiring you to top the points table at the end of each championship. As usual they offer five points and a bonus for victory.
Stop, Hummer Time is a Cross Country series for A Class (701-800PI) Hummer vehicles, awarding a Dodge Durango for the win. Gone Truckin’ is similar, but requires a B Class (601-700PI) Pickups & 4x4s vehicle, unusually awarding a Super Wheelspin — and is a one-race affair, taking place at The Titan.
The blacktop challenge is Torque the Talk, requiring an S1 Class (801-900PI) Shelby vehicle, and awarding a 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 for victory.
EventLab: Midtown Urban City
- Car: A Class, Super Saloons, USA
- Location: Cordillera
- Challenge: Finish the race
- Reward: 3 points, Jeep Cherokee ’14
EventLab: Motorinsanity Stormy Bay
- Car: A Class, Unlimited Offroad, USA
- Location: Tulum
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, Super Wheelspin
Danger Sign: Boardwalk
- Car: A Class, Jeep Trailcat
- Location: Riviera Maya
- Challenge: 100m
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Mudflows
- Car: A Class, Jeep Trailcat
- Location: Gran Caldera
- Challenge: 130mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Seasonal Championship: Gone Truckin’
- Car: B Class, Pickups & 4x4s
- Location: The Titan
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Super Wheelspin
Seasonal Championship: Stop, Hummer Time
- Car: A Class, Hummer
- Location: Horizon Rush
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Dodge Durango ’18
Seasonal Championship: Torque the Talk
- Car: S1 Class, Shelby
- Location: Hotel Mirador
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Ford Shelby Mustang ’13
The Trial remains the only multiplayer event this week, for which you’ll need an Xbox Live subscription to access the event on console — although it’s free to take part on PC.
It remains in its usual form which, despite being in place every week for two years now, still escapes some players who don’t know that teamwork makes the dream work.
You ll be racing as a team of up to six humans against six “Unbeatable” AI racers in a best-of-three series where every position counts. The goal is to score as many points as you can as a team.
As each driver on each team earns 100pt for each opponent they beat but nothing for beating a team-mate, it means working together. Players should (but usually don’t) help each other as high up the finishing order as possible, by getting in the way of the AI but not fellow humans.
This week might be challenging as it’s an offroad event, which usually doesn’t bode well for control. However it shouldn’t be that fast-paced, as it requires C Class (501-600PI) Pickups & 4x4s.
That will likely mean, with an even half-awake team, a win inside two races for ten points and a 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
The Trial: Pick-up the Pieces
- Car: C Class, Pickups & 4x4s
- Location: Riviera Maya
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 10 points, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 ’09
Series 27 Autumn Playlist: Challenges
There’s another set of three Challenges this week, as Horizon Open and Treasure Hunt rejoin alongside the regular Photo Challenge. You’ll need Xbox Live (or to play on PC) for Horizon Open, of course.
That’s a relatively simple affair this week, just requiring that you complete any Horizon Open event (which you can access from the relevant tab in the pause menu) in any American car, to earn two points and a Dinosaur Outfit.
This week’s Photo Challenge, #WorkingHard, is also not a tough nut to crack. Simply take a photo of the enormous Ford F450 Super Duty Platinum ’20 up at Gran Caldera to earn two points and some natty Leaf Pattern Leather Boots.
For the Treasure Hunt, Dodge Ball, you’ll need to search out a specific item: a beach volleyball. The clue is “You’ll want to Dodge into a ball to earn a spike on the beach to reveal this treasure”, and that’s something of a giveaway.
The goal is to earn a “Spike” skill, for hitting a beach volleyball, while using any Dodge vehicle. These balls are tiny and hard to spot, and sit under beach volleyball nets which are thin and — largely comprised of holes — also had to spot. However if you go due east onto the beach from the Lugar Tranquilo player house, you’ll see one right away.
Hit the ball with your Dodge to reveal the Hint: a red circle on your map showing you roughly where the treasure is located. This week that’s over on the west coast, near the Buenas Vistas player house, and in fact the chest is on the back patio of the house itself. Smash it to earn three points and 100,000cr.
Horizon Open: The Open Road
- Cars: USA
- Location: Horizon Open
- Challenge: Complete a Horizon Open event in any American car
- Reward: 2 points, Dinosaur Outfit
Photo Challenge: #WorkingHard
- Cars: Ford F450 Super Duty Platinum ’20
- Location: Gran Caldera
- Challenge: Photograph the F-450 at Gran Caldera
- Reward: 2 points, Leaf Pattern Leather Boots
Treasure Hunt: Dodge Ball
- Cars: Dodge
- Location: Playa Azul
- Challenge: Earn a Spike skill in any Dodge; find and smash the Treasure Chest
- Reward: 3 points, 100,000cr
Series 27 Autumn 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 Autumn Bonus DLC Events
Another 14 points — seven in each location, from a PR Stunt and a Seasonal Championship — await as bonuses for players who own the DLC expansions, although these aren’t required to hit 100% Playlist completion.
There’s a mild departure from the main map’s PR Stunts here, with different vehicle requirements although still A Class (701-800PI) and of course American. Each also offers the regular two points and a Super Wheelspin.
You’ll need a Ford for the Hot Wheels Ice Cauldron Drift Zone, with the 150,000pt target not being particularly tricky — especially if you approach from the east with the speed pad. Any US brand will do for the Rally Adventure Speed Zone at Devil’s Pass. Again the 80mph target isn’t a chore.
The two Seasonal Championships are three-race events against Highly Skilled AI, with five points and a bonus car for coming first overall.
Hot Wheels hosts a high-speed event, Cobra Car, for S2 Class (901-998PI) vehicles from the USA and awarding a Ford Mustang SVT Cobra ’00. It’s a little slower in Sierra Nueva, with Founding Fordfathers requiring an A Class (701-800PI), all-wheel drive Ford and awarding an F150 Raptor.
Hot Wheels Drift Zone: Ice Cauldron
- Car: A Class, Ford
- Location: Hot Wheels Ice Cauldron
- Challenge: 150,000pt
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: Cobra Car
- Car: S2 Class, USA
- Location: Hot Wheels Nexus
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Ford Mustang ’00
Rally Adventure Speed Zone: Devil’s Pass
- Car: A Class, USA
- Location: Sierra Nueva Devil’s Pass
- Challenge: 80mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Rally Adventure Seasonal Championship: Founding Fordfathers
- Car: A Class, Ford, AWD
- Location: Sierra Nueva Crateres Secos
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Ford F150 Raptor ’17
Series 27 Autumn Forzathon Shop
V8 Trucks are the theme for the Forzathon Shop this week, with a pair of somewhat modified machines up for sale.
Leading the line is the RJ Anderson Polaris RZR #37 Rockstar Energy Pro 2 Truck, and if the name seems excessive the specs are something else.
Designed for extreme off-road racing, the two-wheel drive trophy truck packs a 7.2-liter V8 good for 850hp — and for climbing over just… anything that happens to be in the way.
DeBerti’s Silverado Drift Truck isn’t intended for anything so extreme, but outpowers the Pro 2 machine with 1000hp from the seven-liter supercharged V8.
You can nab the RJ Anderson truck for 400FP, which isn’t a bad deal against the 500,000cr price in the Autoshow. At 300FP for the DeBerti we’d look to spend the 300,000cr instead.
Other store items this week include the Thumbs Up Emote and Raul Urias Pencil Dress at 75FP each. The Wheelspin (60FP) and a Super Wheelspin (150FP) occupy their regular spots.
See more articles on Forza Horizon 5 Season Change.
