Forza Horizon 5 Season Change: Korea’s Day

Andrew Evans · · Comments

A brand new Series of Forza Horizon 5 begins today, as there’s Lunar New Year celebration in Mexico.

Series 30 of FH5 marks this occasion with a month of east Asian-themed activities, largely centered on China — which will celebrate the Year of the Dragon on February 10.

Accordingly there’s a world makeover, which is once again centered on the stadium. That becomes a spectacular Drift Arena for the month, complete with Chinese paper lanterns, sculptures of the Chinese dragon — or long — and a matching floor decal.

A drone show will circle the stadium throughout, carrying paper lanterns so that it’s visible by day or — illuminated — during the extended night which returns this series. The Drift Zones also sport new coloring.

We’ll see a themed Collectible join the fray later in the Series, but there’s also brand-new cars from China and Korea to collect, all coming in at the lower points goal each season and for the series overall. You’ll earn an Evolving World Accolade for snaring all five.

They’re joined, once again, by a new paid-DLC car pack which adds four further Chinese, or Chinese-market, vehicles.

Additionally there’s 13 newly available cars in the Autoshow, consisting of a selection of vehicles previously only available through the Playlist.

Table of Contents

Series 30: Lunar New Year

Scoring 80 points across the series, which is actually possible today, will earn you the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

The current flagship of Hyundai’s EV range, the Ioniq 6 comes in single- or dual-motor, rear- or all-wheel drive forms, with a range of up to 380 miles and around 320hp in its hottest form.

Hyundai had planned to go one step further with it, as there’s a “N” branding just waiting for a chance, but the race series it was eyeing up folded in 2023 so we haven’t had a chance to see what a full-fat model would be like.

160 points will gift you with the NIO EP9, and that’s very much not a car that can be accused of not being hot enough.

With more than 1,300hp on tap (technically 1MW) from four electric motors, the extremely limited production EP9 briefly held the crown of being the fastest EV around the Nurburgring — before Volkswagen decided to time attack all the tracks.

Series 30 Summer/Wet Season Rewards

Korean metal is also on offer for this week’s racing, as the Hyundai Kona N — rather than the regular 1.6 touted — arrives for 20pt.

As the name suggests, this is as much Kona as Hyundai is able to offer. It combines the underpinnings of the i30N with the chunky soft-roader styling.

The result is a 276hp, front-wheel drive school run machine which is surprisingly fun to drive and (if you ignore the red styling line) something of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

At 40 points you’ll score something a bit more sheep, in the shape of the Wuling Hongguang S.

Directly translated in FH5 as “Sunshine” (although that’s a different model) the little Wuling is a compact MPV with barely enough power to make the skin on a rice pudding ripple.

However, this is Horizon, and there’s some significant gains to be made if you visit the tuning shop…

Summer will run until 1430UTC on Thursday February 8, while Series 30 will continue for a further three weeks until the same time on Thursday February 29.

Series 30 Summer Playlist: Forzathon Events

Drifting will be the theme for the Series (for the most part…) to take advantage of the arena makeover, so it should be little surprise to see a drift car starring in the first Forzathon Weekly events. Own and drive the Formula Drift #777 Chevrolet Corvette — and it’s a reward for completing The Trial this week — to get Field Trip underway.

Similarly, your shock levels ought not to be too high at finding out that you’ll need to drift your way to success — and we’d be hitting up the three PR Stunts this week, to double-up on completion.

Firstly, you’ll need to earn six stars at any Drift Zones in the car, followed by picking up ten Ultimate Drift or Ultimate E-Drift (use of the handbrake being the difference) Skills for ripping a slide that goes on and on. Finally just earn 100,000 points in any Drift Zones in two minutes to complete the event.

Finishing all four stages will earn you five Playlist points and 80 Forzathon Points.

Weekly Challenge: Field Trip

  • Car: Formula Drift #777 Corvette
    • Chapter 1: Own and drive the FD #777 Corvette
    • Chapter 2: Earn six stars at Drift Zones in the FD #777 Corvette
    • Chapter 3: Earn ten Ultimate Drift/E-Drift Skills in the FD #777 Corvette
    • Chapter 4: Earn 100,000 points in Drift Zones in two minutes in the FD #777 Corvette
  • Reward: 5 points, 80FP

The seven Daily Challenges land at the rate of one a day, at 1430UTC each day, giving you seven full days to complete each for a point apiece.

Head into the Dragon’s Den first, and visit the Drift Arena to score the first point. There’s plenty of opportunity to do this in normal play, so a special trip isn’t really needed.

Next up you’ll demonstrate that You’ve Got Red on You by equipping the Red Suit clothing item. It’s in the Forzathon Shop this week if you don’t already own it.

You’ll be Roaring to Go after that, earning an Ultimate Burnout skill (donuts are good for this) in any Holden, HSV, or Peugeot vehicle at the Drift Arena.

Win a Drag Race — at the Festival, Aerodrome, or Teotihuacan — next to Get Your Drag On.

Play some Putt Putt Golf after that and photograph the 2010 Volkswagen Golf R at the Club de Opalo golf course.

Be Like Water when you complete the Flood, Sweat, and Gears Showcase event on Tuesday.

Finally get a Lucky Escape skill — combining a Near Miss for a close pass of an NPC car with a Drift of any kind — in any Ford to fulfil your Lucky Ford-Tune.

Daily Challenges

  • February 1 – Dragon’s Den: Visit the Lunar Drift Arena
  • February 2 – You’ve Got Red on You: Equip the Red Suit
  • February 3 – Roaring to Go!: Earn an Ultimate Burnout skill in any Peugeot, Holden or HSV at the Lunar Drift Arena
  • February 4 – Get Your Drag On: Win a Drag Race
  • February 5 – Putt Putt Golf!: Take a photo of the 2010 Volkswagen Golf R at the Club de Opalo de Fuego
  • February 6 – Be Like Water: Complete the Flood, Sweat, and Gears Showcase
  • February 7 – Lucky Ford-Tune: Get a Lucky Escape skill in any Ford

Series 30 Summer Playlist: Season Events

A busy list gives you three EventLabs, three PR Stunts, two Seasonal Championships, and a Horizon Arcade this week.

As usual, Horizon Arcade is just worth the three points with no bonus prize. You’ll need to complete three rounds of any Arcade type — Air, Chaos, Drift, Speed, or Wreckage — in any car of your choice to claim the points; this can be done in multiplayer if you like, as the targets all scale according to the number of players.

The EventLab races too are worth their usual three points plus a bonus, and each consists of a custom route this week.

For Utopia Gardens Recension you’ll be driving against the clock only in an A Class (701-800PI) Rally Monster or Modern Rally car. There’s plenty of the usual uphill blind jumps over chasms and uphill 180-degree corners, but reach the end of your two laps and you’ll earn a Super Wheelspin.

Butterfly Tunnel Run is a unique location created on EventLab Island, consisting of one continuous tunnel. The weird AI line makes it a little easy, but you’ll need to win in an A Class (701-800PI) Modern Sports Car to earn the points and a 1982 Porsche 911 Turbo.

A rarity pops up in Turbine Raceway, which uses a modified set of rules, although unfortunately they don’t really come into play or define the event. You’ll need a B Class (601-700PI) Retro Sports Car for a three-lap race, with a Green Car Tee clothing item for victory.

All of the PR Stunts this week are Drift Zones, requiring an S1 Class (801-900PI) Formula Drift vehicle, for two points and a bonus.

The targets are all relative gentle, at 140,000pt apiece for Camino de Montana and Polytunnels — each of which awards a Super Wheelspin. 600,000pt for Cara Este is a big chunk, but a lot smaller than the million-pointer a few months back — and there’s a Formula Drift #64 Nissan Z bonus.

Both Seasonal Championships are three-race events against “Highly Skilled” AI. You’ll need to top the points table at the end of the championship to claim five points and a bonus prize.

A Rod for Your Own Race is a Street Racing event requiring a C Class (501-600PI) Rods & Customs vehicle, awarding an Xpeng P7 for the win. You’ll score a Ford Supervan 3 in Utility Thrills, a Road Racing series for B Class (601-700PI) Vans & Utility vehicles.

EventLab: Butterfly Tunnel Run

  • Car: A Class, Modern Sports Cars
  • Location: EventLab Island
  • Challenge: Win the race
  • Reward: 3 points, Porsche 911 Turbo ’82

EventLab: Turbine Raceway

  • Car: B Class, Retro Sports Cars
  • Location: Estadio Horizon
  • Challenge: Win the race
  • Reward: 3 points, Green Car Tee

EventLab: Utopia Gardens Recension

  • Car: A Class, Modern Rally/Rally Monsters
  • Location: Palacio Azul
  • Challenge: Finish 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: Camino de Montana

  • Car: S1 Class, Formula Drift
  • Location: Ek’Balam
  • Challenge: 140,000pt
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Drift Zone: Cara Este

  • Car: S1 Class, Formula Drift
  • Location: Gran Caldera
  • Challenge: 600,000pt
  • Reward: 2 points, Formula Drift #64 Nissan Z

Drift Zone: Polytunnels

  • Car: S1 Class, Formula Drift
  • Location: Gran Pantano
  • Challenge: 140,000pt
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Seasonal Championship: A Rod for Your Own Race

  • Car: C Class, Rods & Customs
  • Location: Gran Caldera
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Xpeng P7

Seasonal Championship: Utility Thrills

  • Car: B Class, Vans & Utility
  • Location: Guanajuato
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Ford Supervan 3

There’s just one multiplayer event this week, requiring an Xbox Core subscription in order to take part on console — although it’s free to take part on PC.

That is, of course, The Trial, which is Corvette-themed for the week. You’ll need a B Class (601-700PI) example of the classic sports car for Corvetting the Competition.

As usual, this is a best-of-three race team championship, with up to six human players racing against a squad of six “Unbeatable” AI racers.

Each player on each team scores 100pt for each opponent that they beat. However beating team-mates scores nothing, so you’ll need to help each other out while hindering the AI.

As it’s a low-power, Road-based event this week it ought to be an easy enough win inside two races, even with players who’ve forgotten to tune their cars. You’ll earn ten points and the Formula Drift #777 Corvette needed for Forzathon Weekly this week.

The Trial: Corvetting the Competition

  • Car: B Class, Chevrolet Corvette
  • Location: Mulege
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 10 points, Formula Drift #777 Corvette

Series 30 Summer Playlist: Challenges

It’s a regular three-event week for the Challenges, with a Treasure Hunt and The Eliminator joining the permanent Photo Challenge.

The Eliminator remains its usual challenge, requiring you to finish 30th or better — often a matter of just waiting for a few minutes — in any one event. That’ll earn you two points and a “This Isn’t Even My Final Form” Forza LINK greeting. You will, as with The Trial, require Xbox Core unless you play on PC.

There’s a drift theme for the Photo Challenge, #SnapOversteer. You’ll need to take a photograph of either of the start points of the Los Campos Drift Zone, just south of the Stadium, to score two points and a “Driftacular!” Forza LINK message.

You’ll get a lot of help from the Treasure Hunt’s clue and thumbnail this week. That reads: “This spritely frog is oh so bouncy, jump 5 times and claim your bounty”, and is accompanied by a shot of an airborne frogeye Sprite.

Grab that car and earn five Air Skills to unlock the hint, which shows you roughly where you can find the treasure chest this week — and that’s roughly centered on Ek’Balam. Given the name, Frog in the Well, you can probably decipher that it’s located in the hidden cave nearby.

That can be hard to find, but head to the loop of solid-lined dirt road east of the city and go to the south-west end of it. Point south-west and you’ll see the cave; head on it, smash the chest, and pick up three points and a big 300FP reward.

The Eliminator: Battle Royale

  • Cars: Any (provided)
  • Location: The Eliminator
  • Challenge: Finish 30th or better in any round of The Eliminator
  • Reward: 2 points, “This Isn’t Even My Final Form” Forza LINK

Photo Challenge: #SnapOversteer

  • Cars: Any
  • Location: Los Campos Drift Zone, Cordillera
  • Challenge: Photograph either start gate of the Los Campos Drift Zone
  • Reward: 2 points, “Driftacular!” Forza LINK

Treasure Hunt: Frog in the Well

  • Cars: Austin Healey Sprite Mk1 1958
  • Location: Any
  • Challenge: Earn five Air Skills in the Austin-Healey Sprite; find and smash the Treasure Chest
  • Reward: 3 points, 300FP

Series 30 Summer Playlist: Monthly Events

Another quartet of Monthly Events awaits for the Series, giving you four points apiece — one per season — whenever you choose to complete them during the four-week window.

Although similar to Rivals events, you’re not required to set killer lap times — or even beat the ghost you’re chasing. Just set a clean lap or run, avoiding any use of Rewind and any impacts with solid objects, while making your checkpoints safely.

There’s two Forza EV events, which see you racing the DLC pack MG Cyberster around the Tierra Prospera Circuit and going for a point-to-point run on the Aerodromo Sprint course in the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Monthly Rivals has the Lynk&Co 02 at the Estadio Circuit, while there’s an unusual Hot Wheels Bone Shaker monster truck event at the Baja Scramble course.

Forza EV: Aerodromo Sprint

  • Cars: Hyundai Ioniq 6 (provided)
  • Location: Aerodromo en la Selva
  • Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
  • Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)

Forza EV: Tierra Prospera Circuit

  • Cars: MG Cyberster (provided)
  • Location: Tierra Prospera
  • Challenge: Post a Clean Time
  • Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)

Monthly Rivals: Estadio Circuit

  • Cars: Lynk&Co 02 (provided)
  • Location: Estadio Horizon
  • Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
  • Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)

Monthly Rivals: Horizon Baja Scramble

  • Cars: Hot Wheels Bone Shaker (provided)
  • Location: Baja Circuit
  • Challenge: Post a Clean Time
  • Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)

Series 30 Summer Bonus DLC Events

There’s 14 bonus points as usual in the DLC expansion packs — seven in each of the two locations, through a two-point PR Stunt and a five-point Seasonal Championship — for players who own them.

The PR Stunts are surprisingly challenging this week, requiring an A Class (701-800PI) Xpeng P7. If you don’t already own this, it’s a reward for A Rod for Your Own Race seasonal on the main map.

It will need some heavy tweaking to make the distances required too. That’s 444m at Ice Crash in Hot Wheels — at least 160mph off the ramp — and 200m at Dunes in Rally Adventure. You’ll need a huge run-up for that latter one, and aim right to take advantage of the terrain.

Like those on the main map, the Seasonal Championships are three-race events against “Highly Skilled” AI. You’ll need to top the points table at the end of each to earn the points and bonuses.

S1 Class (801-900PI) McLarens are up for In the Loop in Hot Wheels, which awards a Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG. You’ll pick up an Epitaph Black Logo Tee for your hard work racing A Class (701-800PI) Audis in Ohh the Audicity at Rally Adventure.

It’s B Class (601-700PI) Super Hot Hatch cars in Hot On Your Tail in Hot Wheels, awarding an Acura Integra. You’ll be Sprinting Ahead in Rally Adventure with B Class (601-700PI) Modern Sports Cars, with a 1997 Mazda RX-7 for victory.

Hot Wheels Danger Sign: Ice Crash

  • Car: A Class, Xpeng
  • Location: Hot Wheels Ice Cauldron
  • Challenge: 444m
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: In the Loop

  • Car: S1 Class, McLaren
  • Location: Hot Wheels Giant’s Canyon
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG

Rally Adventure Danger Sign: Dunes

  • Car: A Class, Xpeng
  • Location: Sierra Nueva Crateres Secos
  • Challenge: 200m
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Rally Adventure Seasonal Championship: Ohh the Audicity

  • Car: A Class, Audi
  • Location: Sierra Nueva Pueblo Artza
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Epitaph Black Logo Relaxed Tee

Series 30 Summer Forzathon Shop

Two very different Ferraris are in this week’s Forzathon Shop, at opposite ends of the grip/drift scale.

Leading the way is the Ferrari F50 GT, a vehicle planned for GT1 racing but — like so many other stories of the era — abandoned when the rules favored barely disguised prototypes.

Based on the regular F50 tub, the GT saw increased power, new aero, and a fixed roof and while it was reputedly quicker than Ferrari’s own Le Mans class-winning prototype 333SP it never raced.

Sliding is the theme for this week’s other Ferrari, with the Formula Drift 599 GTB. This supercharged V12 monster is possibly the most extravagant way to slide about a Drift Zone but… worth it.

Speaking of value, the 2,000,000cr F50 GT is a snip at 700FP. We’d save the 400FP on the 599 though, as it’s just 500,000cr in the Autoshow.

The other store items this week are the Red Suit (and there’s a Daily Challenge for this) and Gong Horn at 75FP each. The Wheelspin and Super Wheelspin are also available at their usual 60FP and 150FP respectively.

Series 30 Summer Forzathon Shop

  • Ferrari F50 GT – 700FP
  • Formula Drift #177 Ferrari 599 GTB – 400FP
  • Red Suit – 75FP
  • Gong Horn – 75FP
  • Wheelspin – 60FP
  • Super Wheelspin – 150FP

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