Forza Horizon 5’s Horizon Retrowave update has just been hit with a sludge wave bringing with it three old cars from the 1980s. It’s the same story as last time, the cars came from the salvage yard and into the game. It’s just one more thing that makes it seem like the Forza franchise is on a path to self-destruction. We’ve seen enough old cars already.
First up, the BMW M635CSi that I've salvaged from the update's Storm Season Playlist.
The BMW M635CSi was revealed at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show and is based on the E24 6-Series. The M635CSI features an upgraded six-cylinder engine that was used to power the BMW M1. This engine generates 286 PS (210 kW; 282 hp) of power, and it is mated with a Getrag 280/5 five-speed manual gearbox.
In the United States, the M635CSi is known as the M6 and uses a catalyzed S38B35 motor engine. This engine produces 256bhp, which is less than the Euro-spec version due to stricter emissions regulations in North America. The M6 was built at BMW's Dingolfing plant from 1983 to 1989 with body shells sourced from Osnabruck-based Karmann works.
There are several versions of the M635CSi and M6. Two non-catalyst models were produced for the European market, one with left-hand drive and one with right-hand drive. There are also three distinct catalyst versions for Europe, North America, and Japan, all of which are left-hand drive.
Our second offender in this recent mess is the Lotus Esprit Series 2 that I've salvaged from the update's Dry Season Playlist.
The Lotus Esprit Series 2 is a cool sports car with a great history and a unique design. It has taillights from the Rover SD1 and an interior with Morris Marina switches. There’s even a special model that commemorates Lotus’ victory at the 1978 Formula One championship. It was originally limited to 300 units, but nearly half of it was made and sold.
In 1980, the Essex Turbo Esprit was launched. Finished in the livery of Essex Overseas Petroleum Corporation, which was Team Lotus' sponsor from 1979 to 1981, the Essex Turbo Esprit is the first-ever turbocharged Esprit, powered by a 2.2L type 910 engine which produces 210hp of power and 271Nm of torque. It goes from 0-60mph in 6.1 seconds and flat-out in 150mph. It even comes with a revised chassis rear suspension setup and improved braking.
Last but not least, the Citroen BX4TC that I've salvaged from the Hot Season Playlist.
Developed for the 1985 World Rally Championship, the Citroën BX 4TC is a rally car derived from the Citroën BX production model. It was designed for Group B rallying in the World Rally Championship.
Sharing little resemblance to the normal BX, the 4TC features a longer nose due to the use of the slightly smaller 2.1L Simca Type 180 engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox sourced from the SM.
The 4TC is proven to be a difficult contender due to its weight, small power, and hydraulic suspensions causing understeer. The best result it has done is a sixth-place finish in Sweden with Jean-Claude Andruet. Citroen withdrew from the 1985 WRC to make revisions but the end of Group B racing threw a wrench to BX 4TC's debut.
Citroen produced 200 road-legal versions to comply with Group B regulations, each costing 248,500 francs. Due to its expensive price tag, only 86 were sold.
Although scarred by the corrosion of the past, I've given these three toxic wastes on wheels for a quick race across Horizon Mexico's finest just to see how much poison has left after being salvaged by the Forza producers from the scrapyard to the game. Roll the tapes.
Looks like Horizon Retrowave's very own Toxic Crusaders win the day.
The Horizon Retrowave update in Forza Horizon 5 is just another stark reminder that a racing game franchise like Forza often prefers featuring old cars rather than the latest and the hottest cars. This is a huge bummer because, while it may be a lot of fun to look at classic cars, racing games are supposed to be about having the latest and greatest vehicles, which is something that Forza is sorely lacking.
The next update is called “Modern Horizons” and I can’t help but hope that it will do the exact opposite of the current update. It would be so refreshing to see some modern-day cars coming to the game. I know I’m not the only one who thinks this, so here’s to hoping.
It’s not like there aren’t enough old cars in Forza already. How many more do we need? How long is this going to go on? I want to race in modern cars, and I want to race in them now. If Forza isn’t going to do it, I hope someone else will.
Please, please, Forza producers, bring us more modern present-day cars!