Forza Motorsport 4’s January DLC ends EA’s Pagani Huayra exclusivity

Last month we enraged some infernal internet drones with criticism of GT5's lacklustre DLC car offering. But one in particular, a Mr. Hicken, thinks we feature too much in the way of Forza Motorsport 4 and that we were wrong to have an opinion.

Well Mr. Hicken, it just so happens that Turn 10 have followed up by releasing January’s juicy car line-up for Forza 4, and it once again puts GT5’s meagre offerings to shame. It also represents a significant milestone regarding EA’s notorious license hogging.

For 560 Microsoft Points, the following new cars are available to test drive right now:

1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal

We love classic Alfas. So do Turn 10 apparently, considering this is the second time a vintage Alfa has made an appearance in Forza Motorsport 4 following after the strikingly beautiful Alfa Spider in December’s DLC.

Another first for a driving game, the V8-powered Montreal is distinguished by its unique grille design and had a limited production run from 1970 - 1977. It also cost more than an E-Tpye Jag and Porsche 911 when it first launched. Can’t think why it didn’t sell well.

2011 Audi RS5

The 444Bhp Audi RS5 is the beefier sister of the S4 already featured in Forza Motorsport 4, and while we welcome its inclusion it’s a bit of a shame Turn10 couldn’t have waited until the release of the new 2012 face-lifted version.

1996 Chevrolet Impala SS

It may look like a standard saloon that your dad might drive, but don’t be fooled – under the bonnet lies a beastly 5.7 litre V8 engine. Little wonder the latest version is often used as the high performance car of choice for US police forces and NASCAR drivers today.

1986 Dodge Shelby GLHS

This extremely limited Shelby GLHS is a prime example of Forza 4’s knack for appealing to petrolhead pundits. Essentially a turbo charged version of the original Dodge GLHS, the sporty 2.2 litre hatchback was a very formidable car, particularly on shorter tracks – we can’t wait to push it to its limits in its racing game debut.

2000 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo

Fiat haven’t had a particularly comprehensive showing in Forza Motorsport 4, but the inclusion of the 2 litre Fiat Coupe shows signs that Turn10 are at least aware of their neglect.

This particular model is notable for two things: its engine was inherited from the sensational Lancia Delta Integrale, famous for consistently winning the World Rally Championship. More importantly, it also happens to be the star of Top Gear’s police car challenge, where you may remember that infamous Italian Polizia livery compiled by Jezza. Expect copious amounts of replicas of Clarkson’s contraption to crop up on the marketplace. Boadicea wheel spike attachment not included.

1973 Ford Pinto

While the Pinto’s performance pales in comparison to that of every other car featured in the DLC, it can at least say its claim to fame was, erm, catching on fire a lot. Top tip for future multiplayer races – if you happen to see an online opponent in a Pinto, a gentle nudge at the rear should be enough to jolt the fuel tank, thus innocently incinerating the competition in one foul swoop. You could say Forza Motorsport 4’s multiplayer races are about to get heated (har har).

2011 Honda #33 Level 5 Motorsports Lola

What we have here is another breed of supercar modified for the American Le Mans series, and this Honda version joins a fleet of admittedly similar-looking Lola’s under the guise of Aston Martin and Mazda.

2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe

It’s the all new Honda Civic! Yay! Okay, I will admit it’s not the most exciting looking car in the world, and nor is it the fastest by just scraping 200bhp. But you have to applaud Turn10 for keeping Forza Motorsport 4 car line-up scrupulously up to date.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 #08 West Yokohama

On the surface, this may indeed seem like one of many identical Lamborghini Gallardo’s, but this one is actually rather special. Having raced in the American Le Mans series last year it has some serious racing pedigree. Sadly, the team subsequently announced it will no longer be racing, making it a motorsport treasure. Handle with care. 

2012 Pagani Huayra

Last but certainly not least, the almighty Pagani Huyara is easily the most significant addition to this pack. But not because it’s officially the hardest car name to pronounce in the world ever. Nor is it due to its staggering statistics of over 700bhp, and an RRP of a mere £850 grand. No, it’s the sheer exclusivity of it – and I’m not referring to the fact only 20 will be manufactured each year. I am of course talking about the fact that the Pagani Huyara was previously only available to drive in EA-published racers.

It all started with Shift 2: Unleashed last year when EA couldn’t help but brag about their exclusive license, which meant it was the only game to feature the then newly-announced supercar. The Huayra went on to appear in Need for Speed: The Run, but then an act of God came upon us – EA’s license expired just last week on December 31st. Now if only the same could happen to EA’s notorious Porsche license…

So once again this latest batch of Forza Motorsport 4 car DLC spans an incredible variety of eras and manufacturers, reinstating Turn 10’s penchant for consistently featuring cars that strike a chord with the car community. Given the choice, we’d say December’s offering was just a trifle more tasty but there’s no denying that Forza Motorsport 4’s DLC is showing an encouraging level of quality.

Don’t forget there are still many cars still to come over the following months, and we’ve been given a hint at what some of the packs might entail: get ready for a 1995 Alfa Romeo 155 Q4, 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2012 Citroën DS4, 1964 Lotus Cortina, 1991 Mazda #55 Mazdaspeed 787B, 1958 MG A Twin-Cam, 2012 MINI John Cooper Works Coupe, 1987 RUF CTR "Yellowbird" and 1997 Volvo 850 R soon.

So Mr. Hicken, would you rather drive a diverse range of interesting cars that rarely get a showcase in driving games or settle for GT5’s consistently uninspiring assortment of near-identical Nissan Skyline’s? The choice is yours.

Words by Martin Bigg (Twitter: @drivinggamespro)

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