My FH5 Log: Realizing Voltage

The final week of the Forza Horizon 5 Horizon Creatives update featured the last two new-to-Forza electrified prize cars on the list; the BMW i4 and the Rivian R1S.

Yes, both of these prize cars are purely electric; one is a purely electric luxury liftback while the other is the SUV version of the R1T that I obtained a while back. Might be doing some comparisons later but anyway, let's get to know about the other two electric cars, now that I've got my hands on them.

Beginning with the BMW i4, which is the one I've obtained from the Horizon Creatives' Hot Season Playlist, this is basically an all-electric version of the BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe G26. The variant offered in FH5 is the eDrive40 and the electric motor that powers the rear wheels has 335hp of power and 317ft-lb of torque.

Lastly is the Rivian R1S, the PPV equivalent of the R1T. I also obtained from the Horizon Creatives' Hot Season Playlist as well. Like its truck equivalent, the R1S uses a bespoke platform that includes the battery pack, drive units, independent air suspension, active damping, and hydraulic roll control, among others, making it capable of driving through 3+ feet of water and can rock crawl a 100% grade, thanks to its 14.9-inch ground clearance. Seen here is the one with the Quad-Motor AWD with 10 driving modes, producing 835hp of power and 908lb-ft of torque, capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in three seconds and has 11,000lbs of towing strength.

Having got my word on these two electrified prize cars from the said playlist, it's time to give these two an electrifying workout by sending them to those custom EventLab challenges curated by the game masters behind the creations. The i4 will tackle a custom circuit curated by the game master Spacepacas while the R1S will tackle against a group of professional drivers in an offroad course curated by its game master Twisted Knot. Let's roll the tape.

If anyone's interested in one of these EventLab creations, here are the share codes:

Expedition Training Circuit by Twisted Knot: 122 673 472

Kiyosumi Cuircut by Spacepacas: 118 048 070

So, now that the whole Horizon Creatives prize car collection is completed, I guess it's time for me to spend the last days of Horizon Mexico before getting ready for next week's Forza Motorsport game. Oh wait, I did have early access, am I right? Still, that would be spoilers to explain more about the new Forza Motorsport game because of early access but in the meantime, let's spend the final moments of this Horizon Mexico getaway while I still can. Let's party like it's...you get the idea. LET'S iGO!

BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe (G26) and i4

The controversially-styled, second-generation BMW 4-Series is now available in Gran Coupe form, giving Bimmers what is like when today's 3-Series looks like this. If that wasn't enough, it even spawn its electric equivalent, the i4. It's investigation time, kids.

The new 4-Series Gran Coupe, priced at 45,800 Euros plus additional costs, and its i4 equivalent, priced at 58,300 Euros, are stark reminders of what happens when today's 3-Series wear the controversial front its coupe equivalent donned from the very start.

BMW is now living in an era of big grilles speedo boys call it nonsense and this Gran Coupe is no exception. The 4-Series Gran Coupe bears the same burden as its two-door equivalent but with two extra doors added, it adds some beauty to its controversial looks, meaning it's not half bad to look at it. The same goes for the i4 because while it strives to mimic the concept car's roots, there's no hiding the fact that's basically a 4-Series Gran Coupe with an electric powertrain.

Like the two-door equivalent, the interior still works like every BMW does and it packs gadgets to toy with especially the annoying voice control that your camera-toting mate will find it too much to bear. Thanks to two additional doors, it's roomier than the two-door version and easy to get in and out from the back.

Under the hood, you have a choice of either a 2.0L petrol, a 2.0L diesel (the one to avoid since this is Europe today), and then this; the 374PS 3.0L 6-cylinder turbocharged engine from the range-topper M440i xDrive variant. All variants are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic as standard as well as the micro-hybrid nonsense as well. As for the dynamics, the new 4 Gran Coupe drives better than the old one because of its low center of gravity, improved dynamics, sport-tuned chassis, and suspension setup, and others. In its normal rear-wheel-drive guise, it still works like a real BMW most speedo boys adorned, but with xDrive on the M440i, expect punchlines that will get you hooked for more.

The i4, meanwhile, bears a similar story. The normal variants are rear-wheel-drive only but the M50 variant is all-wheel-drive and because being all-wheel-drive with an extra electric motor in it, the power output is a total 544PS of power, more than today's M4 Competition, 795Nm of torque, a 0-100kph time of 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 225kph. As for range, it's good for 512km based on WLTP standards.

Even with two extra doors and with the addition of the i4, it still has the case of "bad plus good equals better for everyone", just like the entire 4-Series range.

Photo: BMW AG