My FH5 Log: An American Welcome

Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Holiday series update brought back four American-made machines in the stable; three classic muscle cars and a limousine. Let's get to know about these four American oddballs while we're at it.

Obtained from the Wet Season playlist is the AMC Javelin AMX. The variant is known to be "the closest thing you can buy to a Trans-Am champion". It's got a 401 cu in (6.6L) V8 engine producing 335HP of power while mated to a four-speed manual, which is not much by modern standards but in the era of muscle cars, it's downright glorious to get tempted at.

Obtained from the Storm Season playlist is the Plymouth Fury, the infamous car as seen in the Stephen King masterpiece, Christine. First launched in 1956, the Fury is a sub-series of the Belvedere and when improved for the 1958 model year, it sports a 350 cu in (5.7L) Golden Commando engine with two four-barrel carburetors producing 305hp of power with ten more for the fuel injection option, which was sadly recalled. There are various Plymouth models at that time aside from the Fury to use the Golden Commando engine.

Obtained from the Dry Season playlist is a Cadillac XTS that was converted into a limousine by Royale. Based on the XTS flagship sedan, the folks from Royale, a Cadillac Master Coachbuilder, spent countless hours converting it into a limousine fit for high-profile personalities. It comes in two different versions such as the normal 70-inch version and the five-door 70-inch version.

Lastly, it's the AMC Rebel "The Machine" that was obtained from the Hot Season Playlist. This car was originally introduced as a sub-model of the Rambler but AMC went ahead and call it The Machine. Built for the road and for the drag strip, The Machine is powered by a 6.4L V8 engine producing 340hp of power while mated to a 4-speed Borg-Warner manual gearbox and AMC Twin-Grip differential. 

Having obtained those four returning machines in the game, it's time to give these Horizon Holiday prize cars an American welcome. Roll the tapes.

This is what you call "an American welcome".

Enjoy your new rides, boys and girls, because as 2023 kicks in, be ready for January's FORDZATHON series update featuring Ford-related challenges, returning Renaults, and the arrival of an MG6 that Britain didn't get.

Until then, have a happy new year, and keep on driving.

Cadillac XTS

In the beginning when the Cadillac CTS was launched in 2002, this whole Art & Science philosophy was made to save Cadillac from extinction and it worked...sort of. It was made to take on the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class but when the time they made a full model change in 2007, it was graduated from entry-level to executive middle class and it was made to tackle the A6, E-Class, and the 5-Series. That category that the old CTS once were will be filled by an upcoming ATS and for the flagship...Back then there was the STS and the DTS, both of them are very luxurious but they all turned out to be a complete flop so they decided to axe them both. Cadillac's flagship model is remained blank until they come up with a new model that is off the hook...

2013 Cadillac XTS

Meet the new XTS, Cadillac's so-called answer to the BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Lexus LS. It was heavily influenced from the 2010 XTS Concept as seen at the 2010 North American International Auto Show and my gosh, what Cadillac made is some full-size sedan made by some nerd who has a "Ridge Racer" fixation. A luxurious interior and unmatched comfort is something that the XTS had and when you see the letter X in the XTS naming, it really means that there's no other car like it.

2013 Cadillac XTS interior

If you said a luxurious interior and unmatched comfort, yes because the Cadillac XTS deserved to have one. At nighttime, the Ambient Interior Lighting kicks in and oh my goodness, it looks good. What surprised me is the XTS has the same feature that you get from the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and this is...how they called it the SECRET CUBE, a smartly placed mobile device holder to the center control panel. I'm sure that they have iPod connectivity here on the XTS's secret compartment hidden behind the touch screen. Now that my iPod's been plugged and stored at the SECRET CUBE, it's time to listen one of my favorite BGMs from various Ridge Racer soundtracks.

It appears that most of my favorite Ridge Racer Soundtracks I'm listening got even better because the all new XTS comes with the the available 14-speaker Bose Studio Surround Sound system with two Personal speakers on the top of each front seat that delivers high quality sound experience like no other. BOSE was used on Renault, Nissan, Mazda, or even Porsche but here on the XTS, this is just something else. For a real giggle, I would be listening to some songs from the Ridge Racer 6 direct audio while driving the XTS round Los Angeles....

The new XTS is one of the new Cadillacs to feature a new kind of feature called CADILLAC USER EXPERIENCE or CUE. CUE serves as your personal assistant for the road or your own personal DJ while shooting hoops in Los Angeles. Provided by the 8-inch touch screen, CUE provides drivers some ease-free navigation, music, news, Pandora Radio, or some Bluetooth connectivity. Sounds juicy to me but wait until I get to the real part on the XTS which is known to be the instrumental panel which is reconfigurable in many ways. A RECONFIGURABLE GAUGE CLUSTER! COOL! There are various gauge settings to choose from and no matter which style, the gauge style you chose looks cool on your XTS because reconfigurable gauge cluster is cool as your bowtie and fez.

2013 Cadillac XTS

Enough bowtie and fez and let's head back for some shooting hoops in a little bit HEAVEN AND HELL. The new Cadillac XTS is powered by a 304 HP 3.6L direct-injection V6 engine that is mated with an Electronically Controlled 6T70 6-Speed Automatic Transmission. It will have an EPA estimated fuel economy of 28 MPG highway. Unlike its European and Japanese rivals which as bound to be RWD (or 4WD), the XTS is uh-oh....Front Wheel Drive. There's bound to be too much grip in here especially if the XTS comes with a suspension system you'd get from the Corvette; dual-mode Magnetic Ride Control works in tandem with cutting-edge HiPer Strut technology. If I hit the XTS on its sports setting, this car will get a bit uncomfortable but still retains its mild driving feel so you'll feel absolutely unpleasant, it's like waiting for your last minute to go to the comfort room. That is not nice for a premium sedan that is FF. If you're opted to go for the 4WD option, you'll have a Locking Rear Differential for better traction.

The XTS do come with a Brembo brakes so it can have a stopping power of a...Cadillac CTS-V Race Car you saw from the Pirelli World Challenge. As a result, the XTS will have the perfect balance of agility and composure.

The XTS comes with available colors; Graphite Metallic, Radiant Silver Metallic, White Diamond Tricoat, Silver Coast Metallic, Crystal Red Tintcoat, Sapphire Blue Metallic, Black Raven, and Black Diamond Tricoat.

My comment:

The Cadillac XTS seems to be the only premium American sedan I have ever saw that was made by some otaku who has a "Ridge Racer" fixation and the unmatched luxury that made the XTS unique but the front-wheel drive and the part where it made it uncomfortable is a bit of a drawback. It appears that the most famous celebrities are trying to get their hands on Cadillac's luxurious masterpiece but with the pricing of $48,690, it's cheaper than the Benz E350 but not as affordable as the Audi A6.

In essence then, the Cadillac XTS is a premium sedan that was made for the businessmen who loves a slam dunk and it's called M.T.T.B.

Photo: General Motors