With Forza Horizon 5’s next Series due to get underway this coming Thursday, Playground Games has revealed the theme and the new game content that players can look forward to when the curtain drops.

Unlike a lot of 2023’s Series, which focused on world updates, map changes, and rather a lot of aesthetics, Series 33 — “Apex All Stars” — is all about the cars. More unusually, they’re exclusively racetrack machines, comprising vehicles you might expect to see in Forza Motorsport rather than the Horizon series.

There’s also some changes to race setups and EventLab, another new DLC pack (of race cars, naturally) and the return of some difficult to own vehicles — as well as one that was previously a reward for owners of Turn 10’s circuit racer.

Forza Horizon 5 Series 33 New Free Cars

The headline act for the Series, and available as a reward for getting 80pt during the four-week window, is one of the fastest-accelerating machines in Forza history.

That’s the Chevrolet Summit Racing Pro Stock Camaro, designed to hit a point 1,320 feet away in the shortest time possible while adhering to the all-motor Pro Stock class regulations (which no longer included the hood scoop when the Camaro won the NHRA title in 2016). With around 1,400hp, it’ll do that in around 6.5 seconds, although we’re not sure how it’ll handle FH5’s off-road routes.

More regular racing fare comes in at 20 points in each of the four seasons, beginning with the 2016 Ford GT which won the GTE Pro category at Le Mans — 50 years after the first Ford GT took its first title.

Hitting the same score in the Autumn season will earn you the front-wheel drive Hyundai Elantra N, as raced in the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, with an Unlimited class time attack Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution at 20pt in Winter. The Series’ new cars round out with the 2018 Le Mans-winning GTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR, for the same total in the final, Spring season.

Forza Horizon 5 Series 33 New DLC Cars

This month’s DLC car pack is a pretty hefty item, coming in at seven vehicles in total — although if you’re a Forza Motorsport player you’ll recognize more than half the list and wonder why you’re paying again.

It goes by the name of the “Apex AllStars Car Pack”, and comes in at $/€9.99 (£7.99), which also makes it just under 15% more expensive per car than the recent, four-car DLC packs.

Naturally, all seven are racing machines, with three GTE cars and four from the GT3 category. The former group comprises the 2018 BMW M8, the 2019 Ferrari 488, and the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. You’ll also be taking the wheel of the 2015 Cadillac Racing ATS-V.R, 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT3, 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 R, and 2020 Lexus RC F GT3.

Four of those — the Cadillac, Ferrari, Lexus, and Mercedes — have been part of the paid DLC Forza Motorsport Car Pass to date…

Forza Horizon 5 Series 33 Other Changes

There’s more vehicles becoming available to buy too, most notably the 2024 Chevrolet C8 E-Ray. This was previously only available as a gift car in FH5 to players who had played Forza Motorsport (or through the Auction House!), but it’s now a permanent addition to the Autoshow for 181,000cr, as well as being an event reward during Spring.

This month’s Forzathon Shop will also include the opportunity to buy cars formerly only appearing as Playlist or Wheelspin rewards. The playlist will also include some longer seasonal championships, taking in courses like The Goliath, and there’s some specific vehicle head-to-heads both there and in The Trial which also will allow players to borrow pre-tuned cars if required.

A new Collectible will make its debut, with the Podium Tank destructible also being the focus of a challenge in the Winter. That’s part of a suite of new EventLab props too, with 23 new items that include Asphalt Road and Elevated Road pieces, with snapping functionality. Editor’s Choice EventLabs will now also be sorted by date rather than by popularity.

Players can also equip a new outfit, with the Traffic Cone costume. You’ll need to complete the Photo Challenge in the Summer to collect this rather pointy attire.

Finally there’s some fixes for bugs that include the recent appearance of the Quick Resume frozen controller glitch.

The update should arrive at around 1600UTC on Tuesday April 23, ahead of the Series getting underway at 1430UTC on Thursday April 25. As is the norm, PG has also teased Series 34, “Horizon Retrowave”, which looks set to be based on an 80s aesthetic — right down to a new radio station — and will begin on May 23.