This chapter details all of the race types available in Forza Horizon 3, their detailed descriptions and hints.
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Not complaining, though), especially its massive collection of cars. Now that Forza Motorsport 7 is out, and there is probably no more DLC coming to this game, I think it's about time we settle the debate: which car is the best out of them all? I'm talking about performance and how easily they can be driven. The Top Ten Best Cars in Forza Horizon 3.
Exhibitions
A regular race against other cars on the same track.
In any race - regardless of whether this is a fragment of the track or you go in circuits - you can pick the type of the event - Exhibition or Rivals, and after you complete the race, you will also unlock championship event in that area. You can (have to), complete the track both in the exhibition and championship mode. Both of them are assessed independently of each other and they are required for 100% game completion. You can race against opponents on any track at any moment and any number of times - you will be rewarded with a similar amount of experience points and credits, but you do not gain fans. By racing against your opponents, you go up in ranks in the overall scoreboard for a given track. This system automatically picks your opponents, basing on your settings and achievements.
In the majority of cases, the car that you use during the exhibition is the one that you drive to the site of the event. In the regular exhibition, to win the race, you are not required to climb the podium. You just have to complete it. However, your position on the scoreboard determines your pay.
Rivals
You can also score laps by racing against one car - your shadow.
In each regular race, you can race against any opponent in time trial. However, completing the race this way does not gain you progress in the game and to compete a given race, you have to complete it in the Exhibition mode. The top list of players also displays difficulty level of each competitor - whether he used ABS/TCS and what kind of transmission he used (M - manual, A - automatic, MC - manual with clutch). You can pick a specific contestant that you want to race against - with such choice, you can view the 'ghost', you can see the opponent's car and the way in which he broke the record. For defeating specific opponents you also receive more credit and points. If you do not have the car that is required for a given race, you can often lend it, but you cannot tune it then and match it with your preferences.
Mailing system of rivals is a piece of cake - every month, the system picks suggested tracks, where you race against opponents from across the world, in an attempt to get the best time. Rules of the race are predetermined - they concern a specific car or class, the make and performance. This allows for leveling the field, to some extent at least. You can view available challenges in your mail box in the game.
Important note - if your opponent beat the track without collision (yellow triangle with exclamation mark) your time - even if it is better, will not be taken into consideration if you sustained any damage yourself. Natural causes (such as elevation hops) and colliding with minor elements of the surroundings, poles, small trees or road signs all count as damage.
Championships
In the championship mode, there are several events. After each one, a scoreboard displays.
Each of the regular races, after you obtain sufficient number of completed exhibitions, will have a championship race unlocked. In this mode, you always race against predetermined cars-classes on3-4 tracks. For each race, you will receive points and the competitor to gain the most wins the race. This is why, losing in one race does not equal losing the championship itself. This type of races are completed independently of exhibitions and to attain 100% came completion, you have to win all 63 of them. Championships are a good test of the driver's skills, because they often impose stiff rules and competition becomes more and more demanding. Proportionately, rewards are also higher here (u to the amount of 50 credits and more for a single championship).
Head-to-head, Street races and Midnight events
The above three categories are tightly bound together. Head to head races are about challenging other drivatars. Unlock Bounty Drivatars skill in the Boss of the festival to earn more from races against unique opponents (marked with green crosshairs on the mini-map).
Hint: to complete those challenges fast, drive to the wastes and take the off-road car. This task requires you to reach the destination, instead of crossing checkpoints, which is why you can take shortcuts, and this is easier when you are not surrounded by trees.
Street races usually take place in unfavorable weather conditions
By completing successive head-to-head races, you unlock Street races. These are illegal races in traffic of the 'sprint' type - you race from checkpoint to checkpoint along a specific route. You will have to face many adversities: nighttime, opponents, often unfavorable and rainy weather, as well as traffic. Sometimes, a fragment of the track is metalled. You have to drive a car that you will reach the finishing line on. You have to come in first to complete the race.
Hint: to end street races in an easier way, try to get a car of the S1 class, 4x4 (it sticks to slippery surfaces better and allows you to get to the head of the race at the very beginning of the match, thanks to which they will be off your head).
Midnight events are head-to-head races in traffic and in rain.
To unlock Midnight events, you have to complete around 5 street races. The rules here are the same, but you race against the opponent 1-on-1, on any car. The opponent usually has a powerful, modified car, which is why you should pick your favorite car for this event. As a result of each victory, you receive your opponent's car. This is the only way to obtain some of the more unique cars in the game. List of such cars has been included in chapter Midnight events in the Obtaining of cars section, as well as on the list of all the cars in the game.
Bucket list
Bucket list - you can view available challenges in the festival menu
Bucket list is a list of challenges made by the game creators. You unlock them with progress into the game. A big advantage is that you do not have to own any specific car and what counts here is your skills only. Challenges have been grouped in several categories, e.g. perform a drift in a given zone and receive a specific number of points, jump to a specific height in a specific spot or beat a track within a time limit. Difficulty level of these challenges varies and completing them is required for 100% completion of the game.
Bucket list projects
Thanks to the bucket list, you can also create your own challenges that you will share with other players. Pick the car, the track and optionally, objectives (e.g. reach the speed limit point within a specific time limit and exceed a given speed)/ Before you post those challenges, you have to complete them first - this way you achieve a result that others will be trying to beat.
Bucket lists can also be created in the case of some offline races - if you want to complete a race, but you do not like the suggested cars that are required for that race, (e.g. if you reach the event on a car designed for off-road races).
FordFord Motor Company was incorporated in 1903 and rapidly grew into a major force in the fledgling automobile industry. The Ford Model T, introduced in 1908, revolutionized the mass-production of affordable automobiles. Key to its huge production was Ford's pioneering use of the moving assembly line. In 19 years, Ford manufactured more than 15 million Model Ts. By 1927, the Model T was losing sales to more modern cars from other companies, so Ford replaced it with the more competitive Model A, producing four million Model As in just four years. In 1932, Ford became the first auto manufacturer to offer an affordable V8-powered car.
In the meantime, Ford entered the luxury market by purchasing the Lincoln Motor Company in 1922, and started the mid-priced Mercury brand in 1939. Ford added the sporty Thunderbird to its lineup in 1955, and 1964 saw the introduction of the best-selling Mustang. Ford also introduced the exotic GT-40 in 1964, and the GT-40 would go on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans four straight times from 1966 through 1969. In 2004, directly inspired by the GT-40 race car, Ford began producing a modern version of the Ford GT. At the other end of the spectrum, Ford entered the sport compact market with the affordable, high-performance SVT Focus in 2002.
Ford introduced its first gas-electric hybrid in 2005 with the Escape Hybrid SUV. Yes, a pre-war Ford in Forza Motorsport. It’s difficult not to appreciate this car. While hard to find nowadays, the Ford Coupe has been an icon since its inception and it sold millions in its time. The flathead V8 alone is a piece of history. It could be said that hot-rodding began with this car when our veterans came home from World War II and wanted something affordable they could work on and build up.
The design reflects the Art Deco period, with its bold and sweeping lines and minimal flashy exterior components. The original, begging-to-be-modified flathead V8 puts out a mild 60-85 horsepower. Although weighing in at only 2,970 pounds, the De Luxe Coupe is fairly light and responds well, once upgraded to modern componentry.
Just tooling around bone stock, however, is like taking a luxurious trip back in time. There is a certain nostalgia about a wood-bodied vehicle or “woody.” The Ford Super Deluxe Station Wagon is a perfect post-World War II example of the halo vehicles of the time– a time when you didn’t wax your car, you went out and put on a new coat of varnish on it.
It’s a work of art and since it’s a station wagon, this woody was a truckster that served families loyally with all of its 90 horsepower and ample storage space. Whether you find yourself travelling the highways and byways in search of the most picturesque spot to photograph this classic or just enjoying the ride along the way, you will find that this is one special wagon. One of the first “race on Sunday, commute on Monday” factory cars, the Lotus Cortina built its reputation on the track and in people’s daily lives. Henry Ford II assigned Lotus’ Colin Chapman the task of building a Ford that was performance inspired and could give Ford some racing credibility.
The Cortina did so in triplicate, winning rally and touring car championships right and left and being driven by the likes of Jim Clark. The Cortina provides a peppy 0-60 time of just under 10 seconds and adroit cornering, partially in part to its dainty 2,060 pounds of weight. Without doubt, credit needs to also be given to its 115 horsepower, which are generated by a twin-cam 1.6-liter four-cylinder with thirsty and throaty sounding dual-Weber carbs. While this car can carry four people in relative comfort, it is most happy when being revved high and thrown into a corner with full gusto. Few American race cars have found (or so rightly deserved) such international acclaim as the GT40 MkII, which in and of itself was an international collaboration between Ford’s Advanced Vehicles division and chassis constructor Lola of the UK. Ford had seen success with the Shelby Cobras, but a feud with Ferrari, combined with a lack of endurance racing success in the prototype class, meant that money flowed into FAV/Lola to design a world-beater.
The original GT40 was a promising concept that was not up to snuff on the track, being fragile and unstable at speed, so Ford called on Carroll Shelby once again to help perfect the design. Fitting a lightened 427 V8 derived from their NASCAR program and shoring up the weak gearbox that plagued the MkIs, the GT40 finally flourished as a racer. Far and away the fastest vehicle on the straights, the only way the Ferraris could beat the GT40 was to hope they broke down first.
In 1966, however, it was the high-strung Ferraris who failed. To be fair, out of a total field of 13 GT40s, only three survived to finish the race—but those three crossed the line first, second, and third for a complete sweep of the podium. The GT40 gave Ford a dominating win at the toughest motor racing event on earth, rightly earning a place in the history books as well as your garage.
The Falcon holds a prominent place in Australian muscle car history. When Ford Australia Managing Director Bill Bourke introduced the XR GT, its racing provenance was soon in the making. With a 289 V8 powering the car, Harry Firth of the Ford Works Team took the Falcon racing at Bathurst – Mount Panorama. It was groundbreaking since the course had previously been considered too difficult for a full-bodied car like the Falcon. Firth and Fred Gibson won the then named Gallaher 500 by 11 seconds and set the course for GM’s Holden and Chrysler Australia to get involved in racing. The resulting rivalries and brand loyalties have built generations of muscle car lovers in Australia.
The 1969 Boss 302 is a legend of Trans-Am racing, built by Ford to compete against the scourge of GM victories. It was driven by the likes of Parnelli Jones and temporarily turned the tables in Ford’s favor in the 1970 season. This free-breathing old school V8 was capable of much more than controlled terror in a corner; in fact, it was downright sporting. Car & Driver Magazine called it “the best handling Ford to ever come out of Dearborn.” It may have been rated at 290 horsepower, but everyone knew upon driving it there were much closer to 400 ponies under the hood.
With less than 2,000 built in 1969, the Boss 302 is the perfect competitor in any race of American steel. It has been described as “simply one of the best cars in the world.” Australian racing great Allan Moffat drove one to victory in the 1971 Hardi-Ferodo 500 at Bathurst and took the Australian Touring Car Championship that year too.
The 351 Cleveland V8 power plant was rated at 300 horsepower but, actual output was much higher. 300 models were built for homologation, but around 100 exist today. These Aussie muscle cars are in high demand and with performance that was ready to take on the Ferraris and Aston Martins of the day it is something every Forza fan should have in their garage. Nowhere else on Earth will you find an appreciation for four-door performance sedans like that found in Australia, and nowhere else will you find the kind of performance that is imbued in the Ford Falcon XA GT-HO. There was only one production model ever completely built. When news of these and other 160 mph “super cars” hit the media, the uproar over public safety was simply too much, and the government stepped in and stopped production.
The car would never see homologation or its destiny of dominating Bathurst. You can drive it here in Forza though, and that should be more than enough to validate the following it created. There aren’t many more exciting ways to enjoy a little more than 110 hp than a Mk1 Escort RS1600. RS stands for “Ralley Sport” denoting the long line of victories the Escort earned in professional and amateur rally and road racing since its inception in 1968. Under the hood is a Crossflow block with a 16-valve Cosworth head built at Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations center in South Essex, U.K. To go with that spunky motor is a sport suspension and a stiffer, strengthened, and seam-welded body shell.
No new challenges for now, but you can enjoy your beloved challenges again in an advanced difficulty with this mode. Flappy dunk unblocked games 66. What’s NewA lot of new stuff for you dear players!– Mirror mode has been added to the game!
Whether it’s the classic lines that draw you to the RS1600 or its marked racing record this is one pre-hot-hatch era compact that is sure to shine. 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 Australia’s 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. The Capri is perhaps one of the most European-looking cars Ford ever produced. That might be because Ford designed the car for the European market in an attempt to reproduce the success the Mustang saw in America. The Capri was broadly accepted and for years was available with a variety of powerplants to increase appeal to different audiences.
In America, the Capri was marketed by the Mercury division as “the sexy European.” Its long sloping nose and fastback coupe rear were a form that resembled the Mustang but also fit the form of popular Japanese coupes of the era. With its spry 3.1 liter motor in this homologation model, the RS3100 will get the jump on similarly-classed cars. Dieter Glemser and fellow German Jochen Mass both won European Touring Car Championships in Capris, thus proving their adeptness to the track. When Ford introduced the Bronco in 1966 the goal was to compete with the Jeeps and International Scouts that dominated the off road vehicle market.
Ford went all-in and designed the Bronco from the ground up, although the axles and brakes were from the 4x4 F-Series. The result was a capable ORV that was simple and functional.
By 1975 the Bronco was struggling for market share, partially in part to its more car like design and a lack of power compared to the competition from GM and Mopar, by 1977 the Bronco was remade, larger and more truck like, and the original became an instant classic. Ready to wheel its way into your heart or into any backwoods, the original Bronco was “built Ford tough” long before the marketing slogan ever existed.
There’s a snake in the grille, instead of a pony, because this isn’t your ordinary Mustang II. It’s the King Cobra, the fanciest version on offer in the heady days of the late 1970s, when automotive visual flair was at its wildest. Available in a number of bold colors with bright red pinstripes, a huge hooded cobra menacing onlookers from the power-blistered hood, and the large “King Cobra” script on the tail and doors, there’s no mistaking it for anything else on the road. The sporty looks continue to the “lacy” pinstriped alloy wheels and the “5.0” badge on the hood bulge. The 302 cid V8 exhales through a pair of chrome exhaust tips poking out from under the ducktail spoiler on the trunk-lid.
There are few cars that get you in the mood to pop in a period 8-track and rock out like the King Cobra. But if you’re not feeling nostalgic about the ‘70s performance, rummaging around in the garage will present numerous options for making this snake more vicious. The smallest of Fords was a success from the moment it was produced in 1976. While not the first front-wheel drive Ford (give that credit to the Taunus) it was the first widely-selling FWD car for the company.
U.S.-bound Fiesta models were built in Germany, offering the appeal of a German-built Ford. With an attractive hot hatch look and plenty of pep, the Fiesta just begged to be tossed around. Other than sporty decals and alloy wheels, the one thing the Fiesta lacked was a performance model. Upon testing the waters with the Fiesta Supersport, Ford built the XR2 which brought a stiffened suspension and a 1.6-liter crossflow Kent engine. Given the already nimble and light base, the nearly 100 horsepower of the XR2 really got the party started. When considering this is where the Fiesta of today got its roots, it’s no wonder the XR2 looks so good against the competition. Whether it’s their unreal performance, the dangerous racing, or their early demise, Group B racers hold a special place in the minds of motorsports enthusiasts.
One of the most promising, controversial, and ultimately unfulfilled of the Group B cars is the RS200—a design that never was able to fully show off its potential. Early non-Evolution models struggled against their competition in the highly competitive class, but the Evolution model represented here may have changed the tide, had Group B not been cancelled. The RS200 had a role in the cancellation, too—a series of disastrous accidents involving the car helped convince the governing body to reign in the series. While its history is muddled, as a vehicle the RS200 Evolution is brilliant, with staggering acceleration and tenacious grip provided by the highly complex all-wheel drive system. The polarizing bodywork, designed by Ghia, has aged well and makes this icon hard to mistake.
Like any homologation special, its performance is exotic for the street but not as wild as the competition-spec cars—while quite fast and balanced, those seeking a taste of the full potential of the chassis can visit the Upgrade Shop. You really can’t have too many spoilers. The Sierra RS500 Cosworth has two, and they’re hard to miss. That’s ok though, because this Cossie has enough get-up to need them. A limited production, beefed-up homologation variant of the already formidable Sierra RS Cosworth, its 2-liter engine inhales nearly 11 PSI of boost to produce 224 horsepower — stock. Because the RS500 was always intended to be raced in the World Touring Car Championship, the engine had a couple of nifty tricks that meant someone with the tuning knowhow could easily unlock the 500-plus horsepower capability of the engine.
A second set of fuel injectors were unused on the road version, but activating them and turning up the boost would deliver nearly the same power as the race-prepped variant, which was virtually unstoppable in WTCC racing. In fact, the RS500 is the reason that a lower horsepower limit was imposed on WTCC cars to level the playing field. Interestingly, Ford farmed out construction to Tickford-based Aston Martin. Externally, the only clues that this is the rare RS500 version are a few discreet badges and a second lower spoiler beneath the whale-tale. Exceedingly rare (the “500” in the name is the number produced) and very fast even in normal spec, this is a truly special Ford. The Escort RS Cosworth is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And that’s not just in reference to its pedestrian name and rally pedigree—under the skin, it’s not an Escort at all.
The chassis is really a revision of its predecessor, the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (that’s a good thing, as the Sierra is a fantastic performer in its own right). It wasn’t even really built by Ford; Cosworth handled engine development and assembly, and Karmann (famous for their coachbuilt Volkswagen specials) made the bodywork and put the whole shebang together in Germany.
This may all sound cobbled together, but rest assured that the result was anything but. All-wheel drive and a powerful motor (sporting a massive turbo pulled off of the nusto Ford RS200) gives the “Cossie” performance almost as aggressive as its looks, distinguished by a huge “whale-tail” spoiler and more gills than a school of sharks.
All that grip and grunt was worthy of a competition rally car, which it nearly was—the purpose of the road-legal Escort RS Cosworth was to homologate the Group A racer, which racked up eight victories over a storied career. Victory is sure to follow wherever the Cossie goes in-game, as its poise and balance (let alone the traction provided by the AWD system, or the thrust provided by the boosted motor) make it a complete joy to drive hard. It’s no wonder the Cossie has achieved legendary status the world over. This was the last of the Fox-body Mustangs and, in its Cobra R dress, the most rare. Only 107 SVT Cobra R models were produced. What’s the difference between a standard Cobra and the R? Well, the both have the same 5.0-liter V8 with around 235 horsepower, and until you look closely you might think the R was only a standard Cobra ravaged by thieves.
No back seat, no radio, no air-conditioning and no sound-deadening material; these were all removed to save weight. With adjustable Koni shocks and bigger brakes, the R’s lap times show a huge difference over its more pedestrian cousin, the standard Cobra. The Fox-body Mustang would go into a well-earned retirement in 1994, having represented as the blue oval pony car for nearly half the overall lifetime of the Mustang model. If you wanted to purchase a 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R in the mid-90s, Ford required you to show a valid competition license beforehand; a small but telling comment on the raw power of this special example of American automotive muscle. Long sought after by Forza’s rabid Mustang community, the Cobra R is big and beefy—with an SVT-modified 5.8 liter Windsor V8 that pumps out an impressive 300 hp and 365 foot-pounds of torque. This is no grocery getter or everyday commuter—in order to save weight, SVT said bye-bye to luxuries like radio, power windows, air condition, and even a back seat.
Instead, the car’s thicker stabilizer bars and heavy duty springs were designed to make the Cobra R a beast on the track. Little wonder, then, that the Cobra R has achieved such legendary status among lovers of the blue oval brand: just 250 of the model were made, so saddling up in Forza 4 might be your only chance of ever driving one of these American beauties.
Is the fourth-generation Ford Mustang Cobra not quite enough of a performer for you? SVT decided not, and in 2000 pushed the limits of factory Mustang development with the Cobra R, a track-day monster that is can barely contain its punched-out 5.4-liter version of the standard Cobra engine under the power-bulged hood. SVT helped the big motor ingest air and fuel with revised intake manifolds, and exhaust gasses were accelerated out of the engine through larger valves and then into a freer-flowing “x-pipe” style dual exhaust system. The numbers speak for themselves—385 horsepower allow for a 0-60 mph time of just 4.4 seconds, making it the fastest Mustang to leave the factory up to that time. Fast is only part of the story, because SVT also spent significant engineering time making the Cobra handle better, utilizing very stiff suspension and a large rear wing to keep the Cobra R planted—the car’s ability to pull nearly a full lateral G on the skidpad attests to the success of the suspension tune. Huge binders also allow the Cobra R to scrub speed before entering a turn, a necessary feature for a competition car.
Overall, it’s a track-focused Mustang that has few rivals, then or now. There’s nothing “boy racer” about this RS (Ralley Sport) Focus; it’s the real deal. In an era where rally-influenced cars are regularly seen on city streets, the Focus RS delivers in a big way. This RS can name drop with the best of them: Sparco seats, Quaife differential, Brembo brakes, and, best of all, a big Garrett turbocharger. The bang for your buck starts here with more than two-hundred horsepower and plenty of grunty, low-end torque.
The RS also looks the role but in ways that speak louder than a few plastic adornments. The car’s wide stance lets you know it means business and interior details like drilled pedals and a big aluminum shift knob top off a sweet package, that sadly was only available in Europe in 2003. Point the Ford GT’s low-slung snout down the immortal Mulsanne Straight at the Circuit de la Sarthe, crack open the throttle, and as the supercharged 5.4-liter V8 begins to howl consider how well the GT embodies the spirit of the original Ford GT40 while existing as a modern supercar famous in its own right.
When Enzo Ferrari snubbed Henry Ford II’s attempt to buy the Italian company, instead of getting mad, Ford got even. The Ford GT40 was his answer, and with American ingenuity and muscle won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, infuriating Ferrari in the process. For Ford’s 100-year anniversary, the new GT was developed in just 16 months by SVT Engineering with input from Carroll Shelby, pioneering new construction techniques in the process while at the same time distilling all of the gorgeous styling DNA of the original into a contemporary design masterpiece. Forget about all that and slide behind into the cockpit studded with race-inspired gauges and toggleswitches, and the GT’s combination of breathtaking power and poise on the limits prove that it’s a mid-engined monster that won’t misbehave on the track. Ford’s Rallye Sport division is their European rally racing arm, and it is under RS’s expert team that the Focus RS was developed. Ford had been racing their first-generation Focus RS in WRC racing, and when the replacement car hit the streets (in Europe, but not in North America, where the old Focus held out until the third-generation car was released) a new RS WRC version was created.
The success of that version, and the lessons learned from its development, have trickled down to one of the most extreme hot hatches to see street duty. From the bonkers inline five cylinder motor, turbocharged to produce 300 horsepower and 325 ft-lbs. Of torque, to the wild exterior that looks more at home on a special stage than a grocery parking lot, the Focus RS is a serious driving machine. It’s also front-wheel drive, not all-wheel drive, which is not the performance liability it sounds due to a couple of very trick technologies. First, there’s an advanced limited slip differential that reduces torque steer. Then, there are “Revo-Knuckles,” a new type of lower control link that further minimizes the twisting effect common in front-drivers.
There are few hatchbacks, front-drive or not, that can match the RS’s competence on track or its fun-to-drive factor. This is one set of headlights you do not want to see coming up behind you. However, it is also one set of wheels that you do want to drive. Available with a proper bumper bar, search lights and light bar, this is your Forza Horizon cop car. The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (FCVPI) is the most widely used vehicle by law enforcement for years due to the durability of it’s rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame construction. The Crown Vic is built to take the abuse of pursuit operations and day-to-day enforcement duty or even taxi-service.
Whether you prefer to chase or be chased, this is an addition to the world of Forza that many fans have been waiting for. The SuperSportVan is the latest creation in a long-standing series of Ford-built custom transit vans dating back to 1971. The first one, the Transit Supervan was based on the Ford GT40 and could reach 150 mph. A later version, the 1984 Supervan II, was built with a Cosworth racing engine and hit a speed of 178 mph at Silverstone. The 2011 Ford Transit SuperSportvan is a bit tamer and dons Le Mans bonnet stripes and an eye-catching livery on the outside.
Inside is the 3.2-liter, 198-horsepower Duratorq TDCi engine taken from the much larger Transit Jumbo. What’s the point? It’s a one-off design to show that Ford engineers can have fun too, and it was unveiled at the 2011 Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, UK. It also presents a vast canvas for designs and further customization for Forza Motorsport 5 fans. Harkening back to the form of the infamous Eleanor, the new Mustang GT500 is classic muscle in a modern package. This is a production Mustang that will do more than 200 miles per hour straight off the showroom floor.
Thanks to 662 supercharged V-8 ponies under the hood, at the time of its release it was the most powerful U.S. Production engine ever. This kind of power may seem excessive, but it is relatively tame when driven with prudence and even achieves fair mileage figures. Obviously anyone who buys a GT500 is not looking for a little savings at the pump, its purpose is about what your right foot can accomplish. Less than 12 second quarter-mile times, 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and the exhilaration of so much force pushing you back in your seat you may have to enhance your workout just to hang on. Straight line fun may be its forte, but give the GT500 its due at any road course as well. Among hot hatches the Ford Focus has become not only a reliable commuter, but its styling cues have caught the favor of many who might otherwise swear by imports.
A hearty rally history doesn’t hurt your reputation and given the success of the Focus in rally, it may as well run for public office. Under the hood the Focus ST delivers a punch that will keep you in your seat and handling that might make you think its rear-wheel drive. That punch comes from a 247 horsepower, EcoBoost, 2-liter turbo, and the handling from an inspired chassis tune and torque-steer compensation system. Ford has brought to the table not only a competitor for the hearts of JDM and Euro owners but a force to be reckoned with among compact cars. Ford has been achieving great success with its lineup for one reason in particular: it has been listening to car enthusiasts.
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The design of the Fiesta ST reflects the things car lovers want. The fact the Fiesta has seen outstanding success in rally racing hasn’t hurt either.
Styling is aggressive and sporty, taking cues from racing, such as the high-mounted rear spoiler and a low center of gravity. The Fiesta is loads of fun to drive, thanks to its 197 horsepower eco-boost engine and electric power-assisted steering.
Off the line, the Fiesta ST is more than peppy, it’s downright fast, and through corners the lack of understeer will inspire confidence. Steering is quick and responsive and, despite being front-wheel drive, its tail can be pushed out with a little help from a heavy foot. Take a few turns in the smaller of Ford’s hot hatches and you will agree Ford has been doing the right thing. Ford continues its endeavors to win in off-road racing with its 2014 Dakar Rally effort in the Ranger T6 Rally Raid. Drawing on the proven expertise of South African Neal Woolridge, who beat out several American constructors for the chance to build this effort, Ford has gone to great lengths to deliver a true contender for the Dakar.
Under the hood is a military dust-proofed 32-valve V8 – a la Ford Mustang – connected to a Sadev six-speed sequential transmission. The body shell resembles a Ranger four-door 4X4 but, underneath, the chassis and suspension are completely custom. Suspension travel and durability are paramount since this truck will be travelling at more than 100 mph across surfaces that most trucks would crawl over. This will be Ford’s first factory effort in the Dakar and, by the look of things, they are aiming to finish strong. There are few more difficult accomplishments than winning the Baja 1000. The #11 piloted by off-road legend Rob MacCachren, along with Andy McMillin and Jason Voss, did just that.
This is the toughest class, the Trophy Truck class, built from a budget nearly as immense as the talent that drove it to victory. Winning by a margin of almost 30 minutes, the team and truck showed they had what it takes in the most punishing terrain and among top-notch competition.
Take this 850hp beast, with suspension enough to swallow gullies and boulders, and let ‘er rip. Unless you live in Australia, mention of a Ford Falcon will likely only harken a memory of a mild-mannered mid-size sedan from America’s past. However, Aussies must have been greasing the palms of Ford executives, because they have been getting their own Falcon all along, and it has been one of the island continent’s bestselling vehicles.
There’s also a long standing rivalry with a car called the Holden(GM) Commodore that has been making V8 Supercar racing exciting for decades. So, what you are looking at here is the latest, special model Falcon. A RWD four-door sedan with a 5.0 liter V8 and all the suspension and braking to make it an extremely fun drive.
The 351 badging is a nod to the original Falcon GT and as sure as Australia’s Hungry Jack’s is actually Burger King, you can bet it was built to make an impression with car enthusiasts who know a performance vehicle when they see one. The XR8 represents the top of the Ford Falcon line. Under the hood is the grunty power of the Boss supercharged 5.0-liter V8. No matter where you are in the power band, the XR8 is ready to pull away with a gesture from your right foot.
Outside, the smooth lines of this four-door sedan are reminiscent of the V8 Supercars that are built from its mold. Sure, this is a production vehicle meant for the city streets and country highways, but you will find performance ready to thrill you at every corner.
Marking 50 years since Ford’s overall victory at Le Mans in 1966, the Ford GT brings the blue oval back to the highest level of sports car racing. In 2016, two Ford GTs are competing with Ford Chip Ganassi Racing in the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship, and two more cars are running in the FIA World Endurance Championship with outstanding results in both series.
Now, all four Ford GTs are together at Le Mans and ready to compete for glory. Upon the car’s debut at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, the red, white, and blue liveried car has been a crowd favorite. At Laguna Seca the #67 car driven by Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe collected the team’s first win.
In the WEC, the #67 scored a second place at the Six Hours of Spa. With its full aero kit sucking up downforce and the twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 delivering reliable, efficient power, this latest incarnation of the Ford GT is poised to make another historic run at the world’s most famous endurance race. When you consider the fervor over the upcoming release of the latest RS from Ford, the only factor that can beat the hype is the actual car itself.
With the Focus RS, Ford cut no corners and is drawing new boundaries for what enthusiasts can expect from the blue oval. Most of all, we can thank them for bringing the RS to America. Turns out Americans do love to drive, and the Focus RS is all about driving.
The RS speaks for itself with a barking, raspy burble that harkens to its rally heritage. But don’t worry, the RS is not all talk. Thanks to Ford’s innovative Torque Vectoring Rear Drive Module, power distribution is far more adaptable than ever before. This is just the tip of the iceberg, too; the RS boasts 350hp, aggressive lines, braking that inspires confidence, and an adjustable suspension.
As the result of more than two years of development headed by Tyrone Johnson, Ford’s vehicle performance manager, it won’t take much time behind the wheel to justify that “RS” badge. So why not get started now?.
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