Autoblog

Forza Horizon releases free 1000 Club DLC with two cars, new challenges

Zach Bowman — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:01:00 EST

Forza Horizon has released a new, and free, downloadable content pack. The 1000 Club DLC features two new cars - the 1956 Ford F100 pickup and 1995 RUF CTR2 - but the more important part is the fact that players can now partake in a rash of new challenges.

How many? Try five challenges for every car in the game. The DLC will even recommend challenges for you depending on which cars you already have in your garage. What's more, they aren't just kept to the typical stunts we've seen from the game so far.

For instance, you may have to cause a certain amount of damage by running over objects, or do something like jump your digital supercar a specific distance, and each car has its own set of unique challenges to keep the gameplay interesting. Did we mention that it's also free, as in 400 MS points (or $5 US) less than the typical monthly Forza Horizon DLC pack? Check out the quick video below for a better look at what the free DLC has to offer.

Continue reading Forza Horizon releases free 1000 Club DLC with two cars, new challenges

Forza Horizon releases free 1000 Club DLC with two cars, new challenges originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Forza offers Top Gear car pack for April [w/video]

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:44:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Forza Horizon fans will be pleased to read that a new car pack is available for download today, this latest one selected by the editors at Top Gear magazine. True to the Top Gear image, the selection of rides is both worthwhile and pretty quirky, too.

A 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish and the legendary Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR would seem to lead this class in terms of performance metal, though the utterly lovely Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale Zagato is no slouch, either. You might not instantly remember the Bowler EXR S, but rest assured that the love child of Land Rover and a rally raid outfit is a high-horsepower SUV that should be fun to use on the unpaved sections of the Horizon universe.

Still, the big win here is absolutely the 2011 Ford Transit SuperSportVan. A full-size Euro cargo van, pumping out an whopping 198-horsepower and with a center of gravity roughly eight feet off the ground. What's not to love? Follow on below to watch a video introduction to the Top Gear car pack, as well as a short description of the full list of available cars.

Continue reading Forza offers Top Gear car pack for April [w/video]

Forza offers Top Gear car pack for April [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Honda giving away free Civics in Forza Horizon to celebrate launch

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hatchback, Honda, Toys/Games

Just a friendly reminder from Honda: The Honda Challenge Pack DLC is now available for Forza Horizon. To reward you for the trouble of pressing a few buttons on your Xbox controller, you'll get the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe, an HPD Rally Fit and a 1986 Honda Civic Si Coupe in your garage, and you'll get them free. The event of the new DLC has also kicked off a photo contest that will reward someone with an Xbox 360 console wrapped in a Honda Civic Si theme.

Otherwise, the word "Challenge" keeps coming up because of the chance to run an online race against IndyCar driver Scott Dixon. The track for that digital throwdown has already been decided by Xbox players who voted before January 8. Yet it's not too late to hop into the Honda section in Xbox Live and lay down a time fast enough for a shot at the title "The Driver That Shellacked Scott Dixon," and meeting the man in person.

Check out the press release from Honda below, and the sweetness that is the 1986 Civic Si in the gallery above.

Continue reading Honda giving away free Civics in Forza Horizon to celebrate launch

Honda giving away free Civics in Forza Horizon to celebrate launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Forza Horizon announces January Recaro Car Pack with LFA Nürburgring Edition

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Cadillac, Ford, GMC, Lexus, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Toys/Games

Another month, another car pack for Forza Horizon. This time it's the Recaro Car Pack featuring a motley gang of cars and trucks: the 1983 GMC Vandura G-1500, 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R, 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR, 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition and 2012 Lotus Exige S.

It'll be up for download on Xbox Live on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 for 400 MS Points. As usual, if you have the Forza Horizon Season Pass you can get them all free, and Season Pass holders will also get a bonus car that's not pictured: the 2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster.

The Pagani is everything opposite to that Vandura, but while you might not ever win anything with the van, you can always use the back of it as a place to give out free hugs. Check out the video and press release below for more details.

Continue reading Forza Horizon announces January Recaro Car Pack with LFA Nürburgring Edition

Forza Horizon announces January Recaro Car Pack with LFA Nürburgring Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Forza Horizon announces Rally Expansion and Honda Challenge DLC packs [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Ford, Honda, Toys/Games, Racing

The guys at Turn 10 Studios have more DLC served up for Forza Horizon. On January 15, 2013, we'll get the Honda Challenge Car Pack that puts the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe, an HPD Rally Fit and a 1986 Honda Civic Si Coupe in our garage. Part of Honda's effort to return the Civic to its former place in everyone's hearts, we presume.

The Challenge part of the equation will be the online race against Scott Dixon, wherein you try to beat the IndyCar driver's time around a track in a 2013 Civic Si for the chance to meet the racer in person. What's more, Horizon players will get to choose the track - look for the Honda section in Xbox Live and place your vote by January 8 for the showdown venue. There's also a photo contest that starts on January 15, the same day that the absolutely free challenge pack will be available. The winner of that contest will get custom-wrapped Civic Si Xbox 360 console.

While you wait for that, available as of yesterday is the rally expansion pack. It adds five rally cars, new multiplayer events, co-drivers making announcements and a seven-race series in Colorado with 20 stages that culminates in someone being declared rally champion. If you want in, it's free if you bought the $50 Season Pass - and you'll also get a 2003 Ford Focus SVT as a special bonus - or it'll be 1,600 MS Points if you aren't a member of the Season Pass club. We're working on a review of the significant expansion, too, so stay tuned.

The video below takes you on a romp through the rally pack, with ample demonstration of all the crashes you can't wait to have.

Continue reading Forza Horizon announces Rally Expansion and Honda Challenge DLC packs [w/video]

Forza Horizon announces Rally Expansion and Honda Challenge DLC packs [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Holiday Giveaway 1/5: Win our Racing Games!

John Neff — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:30:00 EST

Enter SweepstakesIt wouldn't be the holidays without Autoblog's annual series of giveaways to close out the year with some good cheer. This year we have five giveaways, starting with today's prize, our collection of racing games from this past year.

Thanks to Senior Editor Seyth Miersma, who has really stepped up Autoblog's review coverage of racing games, we've amassed a nice collection of this year's hottest titles, including Forza Horizon, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Nascar The Game: Inside Line and F1 Race Stars for the Xbox 360, and F1 2012 for the PlayStation3.

Seyth needs to make room for next year's crop of racing games, so we're giving away all of his review copies from 2012 to one of you.

Click here to enter and make sure to read the rules below.

The Rules:

Click here to enter. Requires that you Like the Autoblog Facebook page. Additional entries can be earned if your friends use a unique URL given to you to enter.
Sweepstakes is open to residents of the United States (excluding Hawaii and Alaska), the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older!
The winner will be chosen randomly. One winner will win Forza Horizon, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Nascar The Game: Inside Line and F1 Race Stars for the Xbox 360, and F1 2012 for the PlayStation3 valued at $459.92.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within five days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
Entries can be submitted until Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST.

Autoblog Holiday Giveaway 1/5: Win our Racing Games! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Podcast #311

Dan Roth — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Podcasts, BMW, Buick, Ford, Lincoln, Subaru

LA Auto Show, Forza Horizon, Lincoln Motor Company

Episode #311 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and George Kennedy talk about the Los Angeles Auto Show and the big deal Ford is making over its re-launch of Lincoln as Lincoln Motor Company. Also this week, an interview with Turn 10 Studios Creative Director Dan Greenawalt about Forza Horizon. It's a extra-value-length podcast this week. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #311:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3
2013 Buick LaCrosse Touring
2013 Subaru Outback

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, George Kennedy

Runtime: 02:05:19

Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com

Review the show in iTunes

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #311

Autoblog Podcast #311 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Forza Horizon welcomes December Car Pack with Halo-inspired Raptor [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

The team at Turn 10 has rolled out the first expansion pack for its Forza: Horizon driving game. The December IGN Car Pack features seven all new cars ranging from the lusty 2012 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and the 2012 Aston Martni DBS to a 1971 AMC Javelin AMX. The pack even boasts a few toys for the off-road minded, including a Halo-themed Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and a Hummer H1 Alpha Open Top. Those are fun and all, but we're just as intrigued by the prospect of getting our virtual hands on the 2006 Ford GTX1.

That's the machine built on the bones of the legendary Ford GT but with a body by Mark Gerish of Genaddi Design. Think of it as what would happen if the good parts of SEMA got spilled on a GT. But, we'd be lying if we said the star of the December pack was anything other than the McLaren F1 shown above. That car's still the stuff of teenage fantasies all these years later, and you can whip it around the virtual hills and valleys of Colorado. Check out the teaser video below for a look at the full pack, and look for it to go live on December 4.

Continue reading Forza Horizon welcomes December Car Pack with Halo-inspired Raptor [w/video]

Forza Horizon welcomes December Car Pack with Halo-inspired Raptor [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Forza Horizon [w/video]

Seyth Miersma — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

Leaving The Race Track Behind For The Open World

When Forza Motorsport 4 made its debut almost one year ago, it was quickly hailed as one of the most complete console racing games ever to be coded. Stunning graphics, true to life sound engineering and meticulously judged physics modeling made Forza 4 the standard of the genre (Gran Turismo aficionados can feel free to debate this point in the comments section). So when developer Turn 10 Studios let it be known that, just one year later, it would be spinning off F4 into an open-world concept driver, gamers everywhere started the countdown.

The result, Forza Horizon, is a motive sandbox that blends the accuracy of F4's physics engine and detailed vehicle modeling with a completely new and beautiful racing universe set in a mythical fuzz-free Colorado.

Continue reading Forza Horizon [w/video]

Forza Horizon [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Behind the scenes of Forza Horizon

Zach Bowman — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Toys/Games

Forza Horizon is set to hit shelves on October 23, and the good people at Turn 10 have been kind enough to give us all a glimpse at what their new video game will bring to the racing table when it bows. Unlike previous racers, Turn 10 says Forza Horizon will be more of an open sandbox, allowing players to race around on hundreds of miles of simulated Colorado roads while facing down oncoming traffic. We're sure there will be some sort of appropriately lengthy disclaimer discouraging players from street racing like they do in the game out in the real world.

The newest addition to the Forza library includes plenty of night racing, dirt road action and a massive in-game motorsports festival called, fittingly enough, "Horizon." At any point, players can stop and photograph the scenery and their cars within it. Looks very cool to us. You can check out the first behind the scenes video below for more information as well as plenty of in-game clips. Stay tuned for more videos as they're released.

Continue reading Behind the scenes of Forza Horizon

Behind the scenes of Forza Horizon originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Forza Horizon Preview [w/video]

Drew Phillips — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

Since Forza Motorsport originally launched in May of 2005, the game has, for the most part, followed the same theme. Using real world driving dynamics, the Forza series has allowed players to experience the world's best cars on the race track, both real and fictitious. Of course, the game has developed quite a bit over the past seven years, with Forza 2, 3 and 4 bringing improved graphics and realism, as well as new cars, new tracks and new features.

Now the Forza franchise is going in a significantly new direction. Forza Horizon, announced officially today at E3 in Los Angeles, represents a significant departure from Turn 10 Studio's previous offerings. Developed in conjunction with Britain's Playground Games, which is responsible for producing games like GRID and DiRT, Horizon leaves the confines of the racetrack and heads out onto the open road.

Ahead of the game's reveal we sat down with Dan Greenawalt, Creative Director for Turn 10 Studios and Ralph Fulton, Design Director at Playground Games, who gave us a better idea of what Horizon is all about, as well as a brief demo of the game. Scroll down to read what we learned about this latest Forza title.

Continue reading Forza Horizon Preview [w/video]

Forza Horizon Preview [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Forza Horizon coming this fall with hot Viper action on the open road

Noah Joseph — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

There are driving simulators and there are racing simulators. They tend to cross over, but what divides them are the types of cars and the types of roads used in the game. Drive racing cars on digitally recreated racing circuits and you're looking at a racing sim. Street cars on public roads (whether simulated or replicated) and you're playing a driving game. The Forza Motorsport franchise has always been more of a racing simulator than a driving game, but the minority of open roads that have appeared in the four iterations of the series so far are about to jump into their own game altogether with the launch of Forza Horizon.

Having made the initial announced back in March, Microsoft hand Turn 10 Studios have now released the box cover art and a single frame of in-game footage, both depicting the new SRT Viper on the open road. The cover, as you can see, shows a yellow Viper with black stripes speeding out of a mountain town, while the screenshot shows us a metallic Viper - like the one we saw at its unveiling in New York - on a desert highway in what looks like Carburator County from Pixar's Cars.

About a year and a half (if you can believe it) since the launch of Forza 4, the arrival of Forza Horizon will surely come as welcome and eagerly anticipated by the legions of racing and gaming fans that have enjoyed the various iterations of the franchise until now. All we know about its release is that it's coming sometime in the fall, but with the E3 gaming convention just a couple of weeks away, we should have more to bring you soon, so watch this space.

Forza Horizon coming this fall with hot Viper action on the open road originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments