My FH5 Log: Brute Power or All-Around Performance

If you managed to claw your way through the Expert Rank at the Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels Expansion and tackled some complicating challenges, you have earned the keys to the COPO Camaro and the Subaru WRX ARX Supercar. Both of these monster machines can be proven useful to your FH5 Hot Wheels' driving pleasure.

The COPO Camaro in Hot Wheels livery is yours if you have reached Expert Rank and completed both the Forest Edge and Horizon Nexus speed tramps within 1 minute and 30 seconds in an S1-Class car. The WRX STi ARX Supercar, meanwhile, is yours when you have reached Expert Rank, start at the Hot Wheels Outpost (which is in the middle of the FH5 Hot Wheels map), and then complete the Treetops Speed Zone within 1m30s. These tasks sound herculean but with the right car that matches the right class, it feels like easy work for you.

Time for some bedtime stories featuring the Expert Rank goodies shown here, starting with the COPO Camaro. 

The COPO Camaro is a racing machine built in compliance with NHRA drag racing regulations. Based on the sixth-generation Camaro, the COPO Camaro drag car can be fitted with either a naturally aspirated COPO 427, the supercharged LSX 350, or the fuel-injected Big-Block 632 engine. This particular COPO Camaro is fitted with an LSX V8 engine producing 580hp of power and a Whipple Industries 109-mm supercharger. Not only that, this is the Hot Wheels version made in honor of Hot Wheels' 50th anniversary in 2018. Limited to 69 units, it features an Orange Crush exterior paint that pays homage to the iconic Hot Wheels tracks as well as a choice of a two-color stripe package or a chromatic Hot Wheels 50th livery seen here.

The Subaru WRX STi ARX Supercar, meanwhile, is a VA-spec Subaru WRX STi that was modified in compliance with the American Rallycross Supercar class. In cooperation with Vermont SportsCar, this ARX-spec WRX STi saw its boxer-four engine boosted to 600hp of power and 680lb-ft of torque thanks to its ARX-mandated 45mm restrictor Garrett Motorsport turbocharger managed by a Cosworth Pectel ECU. Mated to a SADEV 6-speed sequential gearbox, it's capable of hitting 0-60mph in two seconds. Apart from that, it features a Reiger competition suspension and custom hydraulics that made this rally monster capable of surviving through punishing jumps, gravel, and pavement.

With our little bedtime story done, it's time to demonstrate the brute power of the COPO Camaro and the all-around performance of the WRX STi ARX Supercar (VT18X), I had these two cars assigned to their respective races with the COPO Camaro tackling through a high-speed stage against a group of track toys while the VT18X takes on a group of rally monsters in a winter wonderland. Get your popcorn ready because it's showtime for these two monster machines.

Although they're battered and bent through this life-sized Hot Wheels playset, they're both having a good time and winning. Not bad for these two monster machines.

Brute power or all-around performance? It makes no difference whatsoever because even though they've showcased different strengths and endurance, they're a real blast to drive even in this life-sized Hot Wheels playset they're on. 

Anyway, with their stint done, it's time to give these monsters a rest. Well done, cars.

My FH5 Log: GRAND VICTORY

Having dominated through every single race at the Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels expansion, the time has come to take on the ultimate challenge; the Hot Wheels Goliath.

As the name implies, the Hot Wheels Goliath covers the whole Hot Wheels Park. It starts near the Ice Cauldron, then continues at Giant's Canyon, the Forest Falls, and a high-speed finale back at the Ice Cauldron. Although massive, it will take around six minutes in an S2-class car to finish it.

This is why I'll be using the hero car of the FH5 Hot Wheels expansion for the finale, the Hot Wheels Bad To The Blade. That's right. This ultra-fast toy car started this adventure and now it must finish it. Where it all began, where it all must end.

Faced against a group of veterans, it's time for the Bad To The Bone to take on the ultimate challenge assembled at the Hot Wheels Park, where speed and endurance are all you need to bring this final boss down. It's time to end this once and for all. Let's Go!

Mission accomplished!

Incredible! What a thrilling finale for the Hot Wheels Park adventure! The Bad To The Blade really is...bad to the blade and in the end, this expansion's hero car finished what it started!

As I said, this is Horizon. The fun never ends. I may have dominated Hot Wheels Park but that doesn't mean it's over for me because there are lots of surprises in store from there. Who knows, I might be enjoying some new stuff around there.

Speaking of which, now that I dominated the Hot Wheels Goliath, I got a reward car for completion; the Sierra Alpha in Yokohama livery.

The Alpha is the RX3 that was converted into an extreme track toy made to tackle through asphalt and racetracks. Armed with the turbocharged 1.3L Hayabusa engine, it produces 600hp of power while mated to a 6-speed SADEV sequential gearbox. Because it weighs 1150 lbs, it goes from 0-60mph in 2.2 seconds, faster than a hypercar. The Sierra Alpha ripped through the Pikes Peak Hill Climb at 9:37.449.

Time to take Sierra Cars' asphalt superstar for a little post-credit sequence at the Hot Wheels Park. Let's get rolling.

Now that's what I called a GRAND VICTORY...although a messy one as expected.

That's all, folks!

My FH5 Log: The Brabham

The Brabham name is synonymous with the world of Formula 1 from its highly influential racing machines to its double constructors' championship title from 1966 to 1967. With the name revived for a new no-holds-barred track toy, it means big business.

This is the Brabham BT62, which is part of Forza Horizon 5's Hot Wheels Expansion. In this expansion, the BT62 is yours to keep if you complete the Double Triple mission of the Elite Rank. Simple as that.

Before getting a little joyride with the newest Brabham masterpiece, let's have a quick tidbit about the BT62.

Founded by the son of Sir Jack Brabham, David Brabham, the new Brabham Automotive unveiled its first machine; the BT62. Built to take on the McLaren Senna GTR and the Aston Martin Vulcan, the BT62 is a track-only supercar that follows the formula of Brabham's legendary racing machines. It is limited to 70 units, a reference to Sir Jack Brabham's seven-decade racing career, and each costs 1 million GBP plus additional costs. Clients who gained control of the BT62 will have access to a driver development program that allows them to fully understand the BT62's true form.

Along with its unique aerodynamics that generates over 1,200kg of downforce and its low-slung carbon fiber bodywork that weighs less than a ton, the BT62 is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.4L V8 engine that produces 710PS of power and 667Nm of torque while mated to a rear-mounted race-spec transmission. It even comes with Michelin slick tires and six-piston brake calipers all around clamping carbon-carbon discs, a Brabham trademark.

This is unlike everything I've ever driven in my Horizon Mexico adventure. The Brabham BT62 showcases its unlimited capabilities as a track-only superweapon that can snake through corners until it makes it. From its raw V8 soundcheck to its vicious dynamics, rest assured that the BT62 is reserved only for the masterful of drivers looking to unleash its true form when needed.

Speaking of which, it's time to give the Brabham BT62 a quick drive that will demonstrate its true grit. Too bad I can't take it to the streets of Mexico because it's a track-only supercar but because this is part of the Hot Wheels expansion, playing with the life-sized Hot Wheels track is the only way to go for the BT62. Dealing against tougher opponents, the BT62 is ready to showcase its Brabham DNA on a life-sized Hot Wheels playset. Let's rock and roll, kids.

That was a close call. I thought I was going to be dead meat but a late surge by the BT62 saved the day. Well done, Brabham.

Although not suitable for road and sanctioned racing use, the BT62 is a no-holds-barred supercar that defies the rules of speed and power. Thanks to its Brabham DNA, the BT62 is truly a modern take on a motorsport legend orchestrated by Brabham. If Sir Jack Brabham is still around, he would have enjoyed this until the very end.

If you want a track-only monster that drives like there's no tomorrow, the BT62 is for you. Case closed.

My FH5 Log: Blade Runner

So, how's your FH5 Hot Wheels adventure progressing? As told, your goal is to score lots of medals before advancing to the next rank.

Anyway, having reached the S1-Class rank following your success in A-Class challenges, you now have access to the star of the show, the Hot Wheels Bad to the Blade, the one you drove at the start of your Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels journey.

To recall, the Bad to the Blade is a futuristic-looking, jet-inspired, racing machine designed by Fraser Campbell and was showcased at the Hot Wheels "Fearless at the 500" to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Indy 500. With a 1.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged motorcycle engine and the wing-and-ground effect that generates 2646lbs of downforce, it's capable of 230mph of top speed.

Now that I got access to the Bad To The Blade toy car, it's time to give this life-size toy car a victory drive on the Hot Wheels Park and see if it lives up to its name. Be warned though, this could get wanton in the middle. Ready, go!

Now this machine's a real blade runner!

With the Bad to the Blade under our command, looks like the Hot Wheels Park is going to be cooler for us to enjoy but are we really cool enough to show the entire park that the star of the show really is...the star of the show?

I've prepared a little grand finale for this machine but I won't tell you until I clear up some loose ends. Stick around, you'll see...

My FH5 Log: Schuppan? What Schuppan?!

So, how's your FH5 Hot Wheels adventure progressing? As told, your goal is to score lots of medals before advancing to the next rank.

Anyway, having reached the S1-Class rank following your success in A-Class challenges, you have the chance to drive an unknown machine from the 90s known as the Schuppan 962CR.

What is the Schuppan 962CR anyway? The Schuppan 962CR is what some called the road-legal version of the legendary Porsche 962, one of the most successful Group C racing prototypes ever built. Vern Schuppan was known for winning the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Porsche 956 and his fondness for Porsches led him to the creation of the road-legal 962, which shares almost nothing in common with its Group C equivalent. Only six of these were made before the company shuttered its doors for good.

The Schuppan 962CR is powered by a 3.3L Twin Turbo flat-six engine that produces 550 horsepower at low boost and up to 850 for qualification use while running only on race fuel, which is unheard of for a road-legal vehicle like this in the 90s.

Having familiarized myself with the Schuppan 962CR's story, it's time to give this unknown supercar a twist and shout through Forza's very own Hot Wheels playset, experiencing what's like to be inside the road-legal Group C racer. Roll the tape.

Not the best attempt I've done but it's a good thing it survived.

The Schuppan 962CR may be a failed experiment crafted by a successful racing driver but it's proof that the 90s delivered us some crazy supercars like this. Such uniqueness must not be overlooked and this car deserves a lot of appreciation it needs.

Experience the 962CR by yourself in Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels Expansion.

My FH5 Log: The Deora II

So, how's your FH5 Hot Wheels adventure progressing? As told, your goal is to score lots of medals before advancing to the next rank.

Anyway, having reached the A-Class rank following your success in B-Class challenges, you've been given the keys to the Hot Wheels Deora II, which is yours to keep after clearing the qualifier.

So, what is the Deora II and how did this toy car become a living thing? For starters, the Deora II is Hot Wheels' modern take on the original Deora, which is one of the first 16 Hot Wheels cars that debuted in 1968. A life-sized working concept was made in honor of Hot Wheels' 35th anniversary in 2003 and Hot Wheels enlisted Chip Foose and Five Axis to create a life-sized Deora II that got indicted to the Hall of Fame at the Petersen Automotive Museum. It's powered by a supercharged Northstar engine from Cadillac that produces 400HP of power, making it capable of speeds up to 150mph.

With the Deora II under my belt, it's time to give this Hot Wheels toy car a slip-n-slide experience just like from the qualifier. Brace yourselves because it's going to get wet and wild.

What a wet and wild way to give this Hot Wheels car a joyride!

What do you think about the Deora II? Have you enjoyed joyriding with it? Hope so because you might need it for your next adventure before progressing to the next rank!

Keep enjoying your FH5 Hot Wheels adventure, boys!

My FH5 Log: Welcome back to Hot Wheels

Forza and Hot Wheels are back again with the arrival of the Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels Expansion and it's going to be so much more thrilling than the previous Hot Wheels adventure back in Forza Horizon 3. So, what's it like to be in The Great Racetrack in the Sky?

Onto the great racetrack in the sky that is known to be the Hot Wheels Park, you are sampling the Hot Wheels Bad to the Blade, a futuristic-looking, jet-inspired, racing machine designed by Fraser Campbell and was showcased at the Hot Wheels "Fearless at the 500" to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Indy 500. With a 1.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged motorcycle engine and the wing-and-ground effect that generates 2646lbs of downforce, it's capable of 230mph of top speed.

Driving the Bad to the Blade across the Hot Wheels Park, you will experience what's to come in the park; from the lush flora and fauna of Forest Falls,  the deserted landscape of Giant's Canyon, and the frozen volcanic landscape of The Ice Cauldron, every perilous stunt is waiting for anyone ready to take on the Hot Wheels Park, leading up to the Nexus, the Horizon Hot Wheels Outpost.

With that, welcome to Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels!

At the start of your Hot Wheels journey, you've been given the Baja Bone Shaker, the off-road version of the iconic Bone Shaker toy car imagined by Abe Lugo. As you pass the Rookie Qualifier, you've been given the first batch of B-Class challenges to take on. Your goal is to score lots of medals before advancing to the next rank. The Major Missions are the quickest way to earn medals while Minor Missions earn less. Aside from medals, there are other prizes awaiting such as cars, outfits, and more goodies.

Anyway, now that I told you everything about what to do in the Hot Wheels Park, it's time to showcase my FH5 Hot Wheels debut. Ready?

Now that's what I called the first impression.

Enjoy your stay at Hot Wheels Park! If you haven't got the expansion, be sure to buy one right away or if you're a Premium Edition owner, it's yours for free. Anyway, welcome back to the world of Hot Wheels.

My FH5 Log: Countdown to Hot Wheels (PART 2)

As the world prepares for FH5 Hot Wheels Expansion this Tuesday, the final prize car of Series 9 has arrived and it's a fan favorite; the Hot Wheels Nash Metropolitan Custom. Having won this car from the Hot Season Playlist, it's time to have a quick word with the custom car that got immortalized as a Hot Wheels toy.

From 1953 to 1961, the Nash Metropolitan is a classic American automobile that was known to be the everyday car of choice for most people, despite the fact that it was assembled by the Brits. Customized by Greg Salzillo and Dave Ford, this modified Nash Metropolitan won the 2019 Hot Wheels Legend Tour and was immortalized as a Hot Wheels toy. The second real-life custom machine that got turned into a Hot Wheels toy since the 2JetZ that we got from the previous playlist a while back.

With the quick introduction done, it's time to give the Hot Wheels Nash Metropolitan the biggest challenge ever faced; out from the caldera and into the scorching sands while racing against beaten-up old cars driven by hecklers. I know it sounds nonsense to you but...challenge accepted. Roll the tape.

Is it too hot to handle? Or too sandy to handle? It's a Hot Wheels thing.

With our Hot Wheels journey drawing near, looks like cars like these are the signs of the times because these cars want us to be prepared for a perilous but exciting journey we can expect from the Hot Wheels Expansion. If you have finished your entire Horizon Festival journey, get yourselves warmed up before your Hot Wheels journey. If not, then do your homework first before setting off.

Have fun!

My FH5 Log: Countdown to Hot Wheels (PART 1)

Series 9 of Forza Horizon 5 signals the countdown before the Hot Wheels Expansion arrives this mid-July, meaning you can expect two Hot Wheels cars and two American classic muscle cars in the series. A warm-up before the biggest ride of the summer.

The first ride of the Series is the Hot Wheels 2JetZ, which I won from the Wet Season playlist. Created by Luis Rodriguez and won the inaugural Hot Wheels Legends Tour in 2018, immortalized as a Hot Wheels toy, the 2JetZ is heavily inspired by fighter jets and high-speed vehicles that sprint through the salt flats. As the name implies, it was powered by a 3.0L 2JZ turbocharged engine from the Toyota Supra, a modified Subaru-derived 6-speed gearbox, and an F1-style twin radiator cooling. The result is 627HP of power and weighs 1,600lbs.

Having enjoyed the little backstory about a machine that is forever immortalized as a Hot Wheels toy, it's time to give the 2JetZ a quick dash to the finish line. Roll the tape.

Not the best attempt but that keeps me warmed up before the Hot Wheels ride of the summer strikes.

Enjoy your new ride!

FH3 Hot Wheels: Shattered Blue Skies

Open-wheelers, these kind of machines that pushes the very limits of your driving fantasies and with nothing to hold you back except the sound of the engine howling, open-wheelers are made for one thing; overall thrills, and in the case of Forza Horizon 3's Hot Wheels expansion, there is no exception to the rule.



What I have here is a selection of open-wheelers that became a favorite among Forza fans everywhere since the birth of the XBOX One and its capabilities allowed the Forza producers to inject open-wheelers in the franchise. Come to think of it, these open-wheelers made for road and track use are like guerillas running amok half-naked and bearing nothing more than just guns and ammunition, they posses the same level of madness as Rambo. Don't underestimate this little fries because when they come face to face against the fat cats, it's a David and Goliath affair to remember because these open-wheelers are teaching them the painful lesson of handling over performance, whatever lies ahead. Okay, so let's get cracking with this one...





The real beauty of the Caterham is not about the Lotus Seven-inspired looks but it's the racing pedigree and the track-day performance that upsets even the mightiest of exotics elsewhere. Even in this Superlight R500 spec, this Caterham is all about showing open-wheeler fanatics what this car is made of. Of course, you can exercise your options by swapping out with different kinds of engine specs while tinkering its handling capabilities, which results to a dynamic and dangerous experience for those not familiar with it. The truth is, the Caterham is a welcoming feast for the more serious drivers elsewhere.







The Donkervoort D8 maybe known as the Dutchman's Caterham but it's more than being that. With the Audi-sourced 2.5L TFSi 5-cylinder engine, 5-speed gearbox, carbon fiber kevlar body, and track-honed dynamics, the Donkervoort is a different kind of track car for people who think they're not interested in British-made track toys like the Caterham but like a crazy open-wheeler that can ignite their senses.





What about the BAC Mono, I presume? This lightweight, ultra high performance, sportscar is infused with the latest racing technology. With its aggressive styling reminiscent of an Evangelion robot,  2.5L four-cylinder Cosworth engine producing 305HP, Formula 3-inspired Hewland 6-speed sequential gearbox, and pushrod suspension, among many other features, the Mono is all about a purist's open-wheeler that lets its drivers to experience what a thrill the Mono is to be. It's no wonder it lapped round the Top Gear Track quicker than the V8 Atom but who cares about it, I love driving this Mono through astronomical heights if it kills me.





For those who want speed any anything else, there's the king of open-wheeler sportscars, the V8-powered Ariel Atom. Using the same recipe as the infamous, face-ripping Atom, it was injected with a specially-developed V8 engine producing around 500HP of power and because of its less than a ton of weight, the result is a crazy thousand horsepower per tonne power-to-weight ratio, which is twice as powerful as a Bugatti Veyron, and still ripping your pretty face to shreds.



With open-wheelers like these, pushing them to the very limit can be very thrilling and challenging and even in Hot Wheels Thrilltopia, there's so much more than breaking their limits on the ground because when it comes to reaching their stratospheric dreams, driving open-wheelers in Thrilltopia might just be your best day ever because while it sounds so crazy, it's worth the shot of driving these pesky little rodents on the track and show the big boys who's in charge of this playpen. These cars may be small but they truly are the terrible beings you shouldn't underestimate with and with a little practice, these little track toys might just slay some exotics for breakfast, lunch, and tea, even elevenses.

FH3 Hot Wheels: Great Dane

The Danishes; they're good at making Danish biscuits, they're good at making Legos, they're good at making furnitures, so on, so forth, not to mention the sexiest commercials in history, but they never made themselves a car of their own until this. Meet the Danish hypercar called the Zenvo ST1, a car you can you can enjoy on Forza Horizon 3's Hot Wheels.



Although made by the country that has more windmills than any other nation with its capital city a heaven for cyclists, the Zenvo ST1 is a monstrous hypercar that is powered by a twin-charged 6.8L V8 engine producing 1,086hp of power and 1,054ft-lb of torque, capable of reaching flatout speeds of over 233mph, which is Veyron territory for a thousand horsepower cannibal that has the chuckle of Mads Mikkelsen donning the maniacal role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Scary indeed for a Danish.



The speed is downright scary, I should say, but what's even scary is the dynamic driving style that is worthy of challenging even the most hardened of drivers elsewhere. The Zenvo has conventional suspension and a heavy, steel chassis, making it less modern than today's supercars with fancy suspension setup and as a result, an inexperienced driver would never attempt to drive this. This is a tense moment. It's like a surgery where a surgeon has to risk everything to put a pump unit on the patient's affected area while dealing with the endless blood pool too risky to handle. In other words, it's almost undrivable. Remember that Top Gear moment when the Zenvo caught fire because the cooling fan malfunctioned? Yep, I can hardly remember that moment when the Zenvo went wrong during a test drive.



Such a very challenging car deserves a challenge and since this is Hot Wheels Thrilltopia, it's even more challenging to drive the Zenvo in an obstacle-laden sandbox filled with loops, ramps, and flames. See if this Zenvo can survive this mess without catching fire like the last one. Okay, ready? Get the camera rolling!





Glad the Zenvo didn't caught fire but there's no way I'll ever going to drive this monster machine ever again until I'm good enough. For a Danish supercar, the Zenvo really is an intimidating supercar that challenges the drivers' manliness, no matter how crushing or brutal things can be. If you think you're good enough, drive the Zenvo on the Hot Wheels Thrilltopia and see for yourself.

FH3 Hot Wheels: Z has come to...

Hey! Remember this car? It's the S30 Fairlady Z that I replicated into the Devil Z a long time ago. Looks like the first-ever Fairlady Z can't leave me alone for a while and because this classic JDM icon heard about the thrills and spills from Hot Wheels Thrilltopia, it just couldn't contain itself and I decided to take it for a stroll round Thrilltopia for a change.



Well, here we are. One classic Japanese sports icon meets the fantasy world of Hot Wheels in obstacle-laden glory where it takes guts to gain glory in this twisted landscape. Need I say more? Anyway, the S30 Fairlady Z is enjoying some rollercoaster moments round Thrilltopia, sampling the sights and sounds of this epic fantasy playground little boys could dream of, and because the Z is having so much fun at this place, this car is decided to rally up some Z drivers for a battle to remember. Of course, while this Fairlady Z is replicated for highway battles like the Devil Z does in the Wangan Midnight series, it wasn't quite enough to survive the hidden perils of Thrilltopia so it's off to the shop and get prepped up for Hot Wheels duty.



One thing I'm aware on this update is that it lost some of its torque and gained some weight in the process but on the upshot, it massively gained a lot of power while retaining my little trump card that I used on this car, the 4WD powertrain swap because added power mean added trouble for a rear-wheel drive car. Although I'm not aware with the current situation with my Z, this classic car is brave enough to take the challenge while I'm figuring out what's wrong with this Z. So, without further ado, let the battle begin...



The S30 Fairlady Z proved the other Z-cars who's the boss and even in Hot Wheels Thrilltopia, that was the real decider. Speaking of which, I figured out what's wrong with my Z-car and it's on the size of the tires. Darn, should have known better, but still it was quite a journey for the S30Z to tackle through every Thrilltopia obstacle after another. Even for an old-timer, this classic S30Z knows how to take on leaps and bounds this fantasy playground can throw it with and that's quite an adventure for me to drive a legendary icon in this epic thriller of a playground.

Although I faced some mishaps with this car, who would have thought that a nice stroll with this car at Thrilltopia became something else? At least there's something I learned on this journey and whatever that is would be very memorable to me and a legend like the S30 Fairlady Z.