April GTPlanet Car Pack
With the Car Pass concluding last month with March's varied Alpinestars pack, we really needed to make a splash with April's cars. This pack ain't no joke, with cars from 4 countries, across 5 different decades, covering both road and race disciplines. There's something for everyone here, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do:
2015 BMW i8
Leading the pack is one of the most-requested cars in our community. The i8 looks like nothing else on the road, with flowing, floating bodywork that seems straight out of the future. The drivetrain is equally forward-thinking, with a turbocharged three-cylinder pumping out well over 200hp, aided by a hybrid powertrain to total 357hp. As this hybrid drivetrain was a part of the design from the start, the i8 is commendably light on the scales, tipping them at under 1500kg (less than a 2-series). With all of those electronics sandwiched near the floor, you're left with a low centre of gravity, just what a sports car should have.
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1986 Toyota #98 AAR Celica
The IMSA GTO category had a wild, tube-framed decade in the 80's. With cars like the all-paw Audi 90, four-rotor RX-7, and thunderous 700+ horsepower 300ZX coming in the later years of the series' life, this Gurney-built Celica paved the way. Up front is Toyota's powerful 4T-GTE, a Group B orphan that saw use in numerous motorsport disciplines over the years. With their advanced understanding of aerodynamics, AAR would dominate the championship in 1987, clinching both the driver's and constructor's titles. Now it's your turn to tame it.
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1971 Citroën SM
One of the most striking automotive designs of all time, the SM still looks futuristic 45 years later. It featured advanced technologies that are still considered as such today: self-levelling suspension, adaptive headlights and wipers, and more. Upon release, it was also comfortably the fastest front-drive car in the world, capable of topping 140mph. The SM put the "grand" in grand tourer, and in Forza, you'll be able to show off its surprising motorsports pedigree too.
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1995 Suzuki Cappuccino
This tiny shot of caffeine is bound to perk you up. While the Kei car regulations of Japan force cars into a tiny 130in footprint, with no more than 63hp, the Suzuki proves that sports cars are more than just numbers. It weighs barely more than a stack of books, making it incredibly agile around some of the tighter circuits in Forza 6. The mini-Viper looks also give it some aggression. If the three-pot engine isn't your thing, wait until you see some of the swaps you can do to this tiny little Japanese wonder...
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2003 Ferrari #88 Veloqx Prodrive Racing 550-GTS Maranello
In the late 90's and early 00's, the top tier of sports car endurance racing was dominated by the Americans. The Viper won time and time again, only to concede to its countryman, the evergreen Corvette. Much like Audi's run of dominance in the top class, a Corvette winning was a forgone conclusion for many. Enter Prodrive's take on Ferrari's 550 Maranello. Built for racing by a team known for winning, the #88 car would go on to win its class at Le Mans in 2003, mirroring the changes on the podium in the higher class (with Bentley also ending a reign). Take this piece of history down the Mulsanne and enjoy the roar of its V12.
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1982 Toyota Starlet KP61 Sprint
Toyota's answer to the likes of the Fiesta, the KP60-series Starlet is beloved by grassroots racers for its cheap, rear-drive chassis. With being turned into track weapons, it is an increasingly hard car to find stock, but that won't be a problem for you in Forza 6. This Sprint model comes with the torquey 1.3L engine, and the snappily-named "Toyota Sports Handling Suspension". You also might notice the alloy wheels, shared with the early versions of the venerable AE86 Corolla. What will you do with your Starlet?
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1996 Audi #45 Audi Sport UK A4 quattro
In 1996, Audi entered the British Touring Car Championship, and as we've come to expect of the four rings, they dominated from the first wave of the flag. Starting at the first race at Donington, driver Frank Biela missed pole position on the first round, but would go on to post the fastest in-race lap and win, followed by a sweep of all three achievements in round two. Biela would go on to place on the podium in nearly every race of the season, with him and teammate Joachim Winkelhock sealing the Manufacturers Championship for Audi. Despite Audi's reputation for turbo power, this 2.0L engine develops 300 screaming horses at a sky-high 8500rpm without the aid of one.
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Bonus Free Car: 1982 Nissan #11 Nissan Motorsport Skyline Silhouette Formula
Continuing our Nissan trend, we've got another race car for you. The bewinged monster you see below is the R30 Skyline, piloted by Japanese racing legend Masahiro Hasemi. Built to Group 5 regulations, this machine developed 570hp in its day, with enough downforce to plant it to the ground and ensure every last ounce of power was transmitted to pavement. Much like the Ford Capris built to similar specs, the Nissan has massive, staggered wheels: the vented rims are 16in up front, and a huge 19in out back. This car brought the Skyline name back to race circuits, continuing the racing tradition that started in the 60's, and still exists today.
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The pack will retail for $6.99 on the XBox Marketplace, and will be available starting April 5.
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