On September 30, racing fans will get their hands on Forza Horizon 2, the latest driving tour-de-force from Microsoft and Playground Games for Xbox One. The sequel has a ton of new challenges to offer as you race across the European countryside, making stops in cities and doing everything from racing exotic vehicles in timed contests to challenging friends to cross-country duels.
With that, there are over 200 cars to choose from throughout the game, and while you’re encouraged to pick up as many as you can (through purchases and random skill slot pulls, which occur when you level up), there are certain ones that belong on your must drive list. On that note, these are the 10 most exciting cars in Forza Horizon 2.
2015 Ford Mustang GT
A car that will no doubt turn heads upon its release in the real world as it will in the game, Ford’s latest Mustang is a beast, with over 435 horsepower and the ability to rip across the countryside with ease. Choose your favorite color and prepare to tear through both open roads and cornfields as you head for a first place victory.
1967 Ferrari 330 P4
Maybe you don’t want something too modern. Not to worry, as the 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 is a delightful throwback. While a bit costly from the shop (hope you have several hundred thousand lying around), this baby comes with plenty of power, handling and efficiency, guaranteed to score you some first place wins.
1949 Mercury Coupe
Remember Doc Hudson from Pixar’s Cars movie? The Mercury Coupe is built like that, sleek and brimming with the kind of power to get you over the finish line. While not as fashionable as other cars on this list, the Coupe is still a force once you get behind the wheel. It’s definitely capable of careening past other cars with very little trouble.
1956 Ford F-100
There are a lot of rally events included in Forza Horizon 2, so you want a good vehicle that’ll do as much off-road as it will on the main paved roads. While the 1956 Ford F-100 doesn’t look like much compared to bigger, badder trucks, there’s plenty to admire when it comes to overall performance. Plus, it’s perfect when you want to find a shortcut through the brush, which will no doubt put you in the lead.
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
OK, we admit it – we want to be the bandit. This iconic racing classic, which made its cinematic debut in the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit, is a comfortable fit in the Forza Horizon world, and absolutely perfect for jetting from city to city, or for simply taking a zippy drive through checkpoints. You don’t even have to worry about Smokey chasing you down.
2013 Lamborghini Veneno
Getting back to the new school of racing vehicles, the 2013 Lamborghini Veneno is a must-drive. Featuring a sleek body build that assures the highest speed going down the road (check out those tires) and a top MPH that holds up both on official tracks and through the brush, this is one ride that you shouldn’t ignore.
2006 Hummer H1 Alpha
Some players just want a ride with power, even if it comes with a slight sacrifice in speed. While Forza Horizon 2 lacks the over the top antics of the Burnout series, the Hummer does its part, with the ability to go off-road and bump its way past the competition, leaving you an open slot for first place. It’s hard to argue with this ride.
1968 Lancia Fulvia Coupe Rally 1.6 HF
A vehicle that’s awesome to use both in rally events and regular races, the Lancia Fulvia Couple Rally 1.6 HF makes up for its simple (yet sleek) build with a whole lot of speed under the hood. It was considered one of the better models in both the 60s and 70s for racing goodness, which makes it an ideal choice in Horizon 2.
1945 Jeep Willys MB
We’re not sure what a military jeep is doing in a racing tournament, but with the 1945 Jeep Willys MB handling as smoothly as it does, we’ll allow it. This vehicle is awesome for rally events, and not bad when it comes to racing against other modern vehicles, despite its rugged appearance.
1945 Jaguar XK120 SE
Finally, being the old-school suckers that we are, we picked a car that makes it feel like we’re always riding in style. The 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE is a car that inspired a line of more improved vehicles to come over the years, but still retains a level of class that stands out today. It handles very well, and its top speed is enough to put opponents to shame.
Forza Horizon 2 releases September 30 for Xbox One and Xbox 360.
