Forza Horizon 2 for Xbox One is a really huge game, with more than 200 cars to collect and race throughout the cities and countrysides of Europe. For some automotive enthusiasts, no quantity of cars could ever be enough. That's where DLC cars come in. The game launched with a VIP membership that offered five exclusive rides and some additional goodies. But even still, Forza Horizon 2 lovers like me wanted more.
This week, Microsoft released the Mobil 1 Car Pack to help fill that need for speedsters. The pack adds six new cars to the game. These can be bought individually, together as a pack, or as part of the Forza Horizon 2 Car Pass. And as a bonus for all Horizon 2 players, the Mobile 1 Car Pack's 1988 BMW M5 is completely free to all.
We recently picked up the Car Pass and took all six Mobil 1 cars for a test drive in order to bring you these detailed impressions.
How to get the Mobile 1 Pack
Note that the Mobile 1 Pack is only available on Xbox One, as the Xbox 360 version won't be getting DLC. The Mobile 1 Pack includes six cars:
- 1988 BMW M5
- 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
- 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
- 1957 Maserati 300 S
- 2013 Renault Clio RS 200
- 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco 16v
If you bought the Forza Horizon 2 Car Pass ($24.99, includes 6 car packs) or Forza Horizon 2 Day One Ultimate Edition ($99.99, includes game, VIP membership, and Car Pass), the Mobile 1 Car Pack will be available to you at no additional cost.
Anyone who doesn't own or buy the Car Pass will need to buy the Mobil 1 Pack either piecemeal or as a bundle. I hear the individual cars cost $3, and one of the cars is exclusive to the Pack itself, so buying the pack for $5 is a much better value. If you don't want to shell out for the Pack, you can always opt to just grab the 1988 BMW M5 for free.
Anyone playing online this week will have to download a mandatory title update of 300 MB or so. This adds the new cars to the game, even if you don't buy them. Forza Horizon 2 populates the game world and races with other player's cars, so everyone needs to have all of the car data to participate in the cloud-supported racing environment.
The Mobile 1 Cars
Like other DLC car packs, the game doesn't automatically add the Mobile 1 cars to your garage. You have to visit the in-game "Buy Car" menu and get them from there. Luckily, all DLC cars cost zero credits, so they won't break the in-game bank. But there's no way to jump straight to cars that cost zero credits, even if you sort by car value. You just have to scroll through them all, which is a hassle.
1988 BMW M5
No holding back here: the BMW M5 is the second ugliest car in the Mobil 1 Pack. The 1980s were a time of boxy bars. If it wasn't a genuine sports car, it looked like a brick with wheels. The M5 is not a complete beast though, as the actual headlights and grill display some mild hints of beauty.
Looks aside, the M5 was the first of BMW's attempt to combine the carrying capacity of a sedan with the performance of a sports car. It features a high-performance six-cylinder engine and anti-roll bars. The free car of the Mobil 1 Pack might not be much of a looker, but it won't let you down during a race. It's a C-Class car.
2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
This A-class car is easily one of the loveliest cars of the Mobil 1 Pack. More importantly, it's also damn fast. The F-Type R Coupe offers the most horsepower of any Jaguar to date. It's so fast that if you pronounce the car name in the British way while driving, you will already be in the next town before anyone can even snicker at your pronunciation. That's fast!
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
This B-Class SUV offers the best decapitation capacity of any vehicle in the Mobil 1 Pack. Drive over a car full of people and you're guaranteed to remove the heads of at least three of its passengers. Okay, I made that up, but I bet it's true.
In truth, the Grand Cherokee SRT is especially well-suited for off-road and cross-country races. You'll whip through fields and bushes like they were nothing, thanks to its excess of 450 horsepower and all-wheel-drive. It actually gets great gas mileage too.
1957 Maserati 300 S
My personal favorite of the Mobil 1 cars, the Maserati 300 S's beauty is truly timeless. A B-Class car, it boasts 260 horsepower and can jump from 0-60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. Plus you get to feel the virtual wind in your hair.
2013 Renault Clio RS 200
The B-Class Clio RS 200 is a practical hatchback car that doesn't skimp on beauty. In real life, you'll get ample trunk space and a very smooth drive. In-game, I'm mostly impressed by its distinctive front end and flared fenders.
1988 Volkswagen Scirocco 16v
Last and definitely least as far as looks go, the Scirocco 16v is a car with serious underbite. That gives it a distinctive appearance at least, as does the spoiler located midway up the glass on the rear hatch.
As with most cars in the Mobil 1 Pack, the Scirocco's Modern Life did not fail to impress with its performance. It was Volkswagen's most powerful car ever in 1988 with a horsepower rating of 124. In game, the Scirocco 16v falls in the D-Class.
Join the Windows Central Forza Horizon 2 Club!
Clubs are Forza Horizon 2's version of clans, offering benefits like weekly clan leaderboards and prizes for moving through the clan tiers.
Clubs don't unlock until you begin your fourth Championship – a few hours into the game. After that, you're free to join WPCentral's official club on Xbox One! Search for us by name: Windows Central or club tag: WPCe. Thanks to you guys, our club continues to grow and rise through the overall club ranks!
Additionally, we now have an official forum thread for all of our Xbox One clubs and clans.
Choosing between the Mobile 1 Car Pack and the whole Car Pass
The Mobile 1 Car Pack is a strong first post-release offering for Forza Horizon 2. You get two gorgeous sports cars, a striking SUV, a standout hatchback, and two boxy cars only a mother could love. An S-Class car would have rounded the pack out a little better, but this batch still offers a fair variety for your five bucks.
Of course, splurging on the Car Pass might be a better idea in the long run. The Pass includes all six planned DLC packs, plus an exclusive car: the 2010 Noble M600 (pictured above). The M600 is available right now for Car Pass owners, and it's quite a looker. The Car Pass would be easier to swallow at $19.99 rather than $24.99, but it still saves you five dollars over buying the packs separately.
What do you guys think, Mobil 1 Pack by itself, Car Pass, or none of the above?
- Forza Horizon 2 – Xbox One – 36 GB – $59.99 – Amazon Link– Xbox.com Link
- Forza Horizon 2 Car Pass – Xbox One – 11 MB – $24.99 – Amazon Link– Xbox.com Link
- Forza Horizon 2 Mobil 1 Car Pack – Xbox One – 11 MB – $4.99 – Xbox.com Link
