Rally Adventure: Everything you need to know about Forza Horizon 5’s latest expansion

The first rally-racing-focused addition will launch on March 29, 2023 with a range of new rally machines and even a pacenote system. Here are all the important details.

What is the Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure expansion?

Forza Horizon 5’s Rally Adventure is a game add-on designed around the sport of rallying, which means racing against the clock on gravel and asphalt versus rivals on the track. Achieving the best time is the main goal on new courses (called stages) that expand the Mexican environment.

Is Rally Adventure set in a new location?

Yes, the Rally Adventures expansion includes a new map area for Forza Horizon 5, Sierra Nueva, located north of the main Mexico area already in the game. However, it’s not an entirely new terrain that retains the existing aesthetic of rocks, boulders, gravel, and cacti.

The map isn’t public just yet, but the Series 18 Festival in-game playlist, live from March 2, 2023, will provide an opportunity to view it ahead of the expansion’s release.

New cars in rally adventure

The expansion will feature 10 new cars never seen before in Forza Horizon 5. So far these include:

• 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum
• 2001 #4 Ford Focus RS WRC – Colin McRae and Nicky Grist
• 1973 Hoonigan Volkswagen Baja Beetle Class 5/1600 “Scumbug”
• 2021 RJ Anderson #37 Polaris RZR Pro 4 Truck
• 2019 Casey Currie Motorsports #4402 Ultra 4 ‘Trophy Jeep’
• 2021 Alumicraft #122 Class 1 buggy
• 2022 Alumicraft #6165 Trick Truck
• 2021 Polaris RZR Pro XP Factory Racing Limited Edition
• 2020 Jimco #179 Hammerhead Class 1
• 2019 Jimco #240 Fastball Racing Spec Trophy Truck

How many events will there be in Rally Adventure?

27

Listen to your passenger

In real-life rallying, the main enemy is time. Beat the times of your competitors as you complete a stage or route in sequence. To do this as quickly and safely as possible, there is a passenger next to each driver.

They speak out loud during the competition and explain whether there is a jump forward or how quickly you have to take the next corner early.

A co-driver is part of the rally adventure, with on-screen icons and the audible sound of Alejandra, Alex or Ramiro warning you of hazards and showing you which direction to turn next – the co-driver is not in the passenger seat in this case , but speak of a Horizon Rally Chopper that follows you at every turn.

“The roads are much more extreme and hilly and packed into a tight area,” said Nigel Norman, level designer.

“It’s one of the reasons the passenger is there, to tell you how to navigate the road ahead.”

Now that there’s a mini-map and blue linework like the rest of Forza Horizon 5, the whole system seems a little redundant at this point before going into action, although it’s authentic.

Split gates are split times

Since rallies are run against the clock and usually over long stages, split times are an important factor for a spectator to gauge the pace of each competitor. Are they higher or lower than their rivals?

These are implemented in Rally Adventure, although in true Forza Horizon 5 style, they are visually represented with the flags on the road and are referred to as Split Gates. Each time you pass one, the top right corner of the HUD shows your relative pace compared to your competitors.

A little extra detail will be a countdown to the stage start and a marshal waving you away. Clean.

You can turn off the rally elements

In a rally expansion you can turn off the rally gameplay. Hm.

There are two ways to play, the choice is yours:

• Horizon Rally – Against the clock, with shared gates and the co-driver
• Horizon Race – Just play through the new content racing against AI controlled cars just like the rest of the game

ANTI-LAG, LAUNCH CONTROL EQUIPPED

Some of the biggest additions to the new expansion are Anti-Lag and Launch Control.

For turbocharged cars or those with the ability to add a turbo, which is already over 630 cars in Forza Horizon 5, players can add an anti-lag system.

In the real world, it’s a system that rally cars use to prevent big turbos from going out of boost when changing gears, effectively preventing drivers from wasting valuable time in racing events. Basically, those loud backfire pops and tailpipes are the by-products, and when the expansion comes out, it will also be an included feature for all Horizon 5 players, not just those with the Rally Adventure expansion.

It sounds very similar to the system in Gran Turismo 7 for turbocharged cars.

The title will also now feature Launch Control, or basically a secondary rev limiter that will optimize the RPMs needed to successfully launch off the starting line from a standing start. In Horizon 5 it will act as a sort of player assist that works in tandem with traction control and it will not only help with lift off but also build up thrust before launch.

This is indicated by the new LC icon on the On-Screen Gauge, part of the in-game HUD.

Alongside these two new tuning options, there will be a number of rally-based cosmetic items to add to your vehicle collection.

There is a team element

You will encounter three teams in Rallt Adventure associated with three existing Forza Horizon 5 characters:

• Alejandra, Apex Predators – Asphalt rally fan
• Alex, Horizon Raptors – Enjoy the “classic” rally experience on mixed surfaces
• Ramiro, Grit Reaper – Rough weather, more demanding

Each of the three teams offers a subset of challenges and events that earn XP to increase your reputation. The structure reminds us of the Hot Wheels expansion released last year.

It culminates in a Goliath event

Of course it does, it wouldn’t be Forza Horizon 5 without a long, sprawling, pack-ending Badlands Goliath event.

To unlock this, complete each of the three team challenges, which will open an Ambassador Race. Win all three, then enter the Goliath.

Destructible Forest

A small feature at first glance, but potentially a big element for future Forza Horizon titles. If there will be any… of course, um.

All trees in the new Palm Forest area are “destructible”. Hit them with enough speed and power and they’ll be felled. This doesn’t apply to all trees in Forza Horizon 5, or even the four previous titles.

There will be a few indestructible trees throughout the map, but this is still a big step forward for palm tree destruction.

The expansions have featured a new feature in the past, like snow or the waterfalls in last year’s Hot Wheels add-on. This time all trees can be crushed.

It has new music

When the Rally Adventures expansion comes out, a list of new artists will appear in the game, but it’s not just limited to those who unlock the new DLC.

Artists like the Architechs, The Linda Lindas, and The Offspring belong to the punk rock label Epitaph Records, a recurring Forza Horizon 3 record label. These songs will be added for all Forza Horizon 5 players.

Release date of Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure

March 29, 2023 on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. It will be available as a separate paid DLC, or at no additional cost for those with the Premium Edition, Premium Add-Ons Bundle, or Expansion Bundle.