If You Like Driving, You Should Be Excited for ‘Forza Horizon 5’

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many fans enjoy watching car racing but might dream of doing it themselves one day. But getting into the big leagues takes talent, years of training, and peak physical condition. So, rather than take to the roads for illegal street racing, you can scratch that itch with a video game. Franchises like Need for Speed and Forza Horizon allow you to immerse yourself in simulated races rendered in glorious HD.

According to Car and Driver, the Forza Horizon franchise will get its fifth installment this year. If you’ve never played this series, here’s why you might want to start.

The ‘Forza Horizon’ racing series

A sportscar for ‘Forza Horizon 4: LEGO Speed Champions’ | Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The first Forza Horizon debuted in 2012, showcasing a fictional racing event in Colorado. Players compete in many kinds of races on and off the track. They can also perform stunts to earn style points. Online play is also available, with downloadable content (DLC) packs that give players access to exclusive cars.

The game was a big hit upon release, remaining one of the most-purchased games on XBOX Live for two months. The second installment came out in 2014, now with an open-world environment in Italy and France. This game also featured a new series of time trials and even an expansion pack based on the Fast and Furious movies.

The second game was also a best-seller, giving the studio the green light for Forza Horizon 3. Set in Australia, this was the first Horizon game to offer the driving AI mechanic present in other Forza titles. The computer players track the human players’ driving behaviors and mimic them to make races more difficult.

Forza Horizon 4 was released in 2018 and set in Great Britain. This game has a changing series mechanic and a route creator for players to make their own racetracks. Over 750 cars made the roster, including supercars from Ferrari and Alfa Romeo.

The latest game in the franchise

A screenshot of 'Forza Horizon 5' Biome Farmland
‘Forza Horizon 5’ Biome Farmland | Microsoft

Forza Horizon 5 will feature the most stunning graphics yet, with a storyline unfolding in various biomes in Mexico. The game demo showcases towering buildings, wide-open skylines, and beautifully rendered deserts and farmlands. It also has some immersive new side effects, like droplets splashing the camera when players drive through water.

Forza Horizon 5 will have many of the same mechanics from previous games, including 4‘s different seasons. New features have also been implemented, including mini-game segments and a campaign mode focused on exploration.

Jalopnik reports that the franchise’s sound design has also been elevated for this installment. Sound engineers completely rebuilt the existing sound library of the series to make it more authentic. Each car’s sounds in the game are true-to-life, collected from manufacturers or classic car owners themselves.

Though we don’t have the complete car roster for the game yet, Windows Central shows some new contenders. The rare 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 and the 2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1 enter the fray. Exciting EVs such as the 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S also make appearances.

When is ‘Forza Horizon 5’ coming out?

Forza Horizon 5 is set for release on November 9. It’s an exclusive title for the XBOX Series X and S consoles. Players can get four days of early access starting November 5 if they purchase the Deluxe or Premium edition.

The base game costs $59.99, while the Deluxe edition retails for $20 more and comes with 42 extra cars. The Premium edition includes these cars and access to two future expansion packs. It costs around $100, but diehard fans might want to splurge for this impressive installment.

RELATED: BMW Sinks Millions Into Esports to Market to Future Car Buyers

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The 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition: A US-Only Camel

by Gabrielle DeSantis

While the Defender may have returned for 2021, some versions have been off-limits to US customers. That includes the limited return of the classic Land Rover Defender, complete with a V8. But now, the company has revealed a special edition of the boxy SUV/crossover just for the States. And in a way, the 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition is the Camel Trophy SUV we never got.

Land Rover calls back to its Camel Trophy race days with the 2022 Defender Trophy Edition

1995 Land Rover Defender Camel Trophy | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

From 1981-2000, the wildest parts of the world served as Land Rover’s ersatz proving grounds. This was the era of the Camel Trophy, which saw specially-prepped yellow Land Rovers conquer thick jungles, muddy rivers, and sweeping desert sands. But while the Discovery is closely tied to “the Olympics of 4×4,” it wasn’t the only SUV that made the trek, MotorTrend explains. The original Land Rover Defender also regularly proved its mettle in the Camel Trophy.

Earlier this year, Land Rover honored its Camel Trophy legacy by releasing the limited-edition Defender V8 Works Trophy. Or rather, ‘re-releasing,’ because it was based on the boxy, body-on-frame second-gen classic Defender. And while the 2022 Defender V8 is coming here, Land Rover didn’t offer the V8 Works Trophy to US buyers.

The British SUV brand does have a consolation prize of sorts, though. It’s not a V8 Works Trophy, but it is the 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition. And while the company claims the 2022 SUV is inspired by the V8 Works, the yellow-and-black paint scheme is all Camel Trophy. But the new Trophy Edition is more than just an appearance package.

What’s special about the 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition?

The yellow-and-black 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition with optional winch in a forest
2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition with optional winch | Land Rover

Mechanically, the 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition is based on the Defender 110 P400 X-Dynamic SE. So, while it doesn’t have a V8, it does have a 3.0-liter supercharged mild-hybrid inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. That power goes to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD with a two-speed transfer case. That’s enough for a 6.5-second 0-60 mph time, MT says.

Straight-line paved-road speed, though, isn’t the 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition’s goal. After all, the Camel Trophy was about off-roading, and this Land Rover comes equipped for the job.

The rear 3/4 view of a yellow-and-black 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition in a forest
2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition rear 3/4 | Land Rover

Besides AWD, the Defender Trophy Edition has a front skid plate, mud flaps, a roof rack with a deployable ladder, and a tow hitch receiver. It also comes with adjustable air suspension, an electronically-controlled rear differential, a winch installation kit, and all-terrain tires. And if you have to deflate those tires for extra traction, the SUV has an integrated air compressor. But the winch itself is extra, Motor1 notes.

Inside, the 2022 Defender Trophy Edition swaps the 10” center touchscreen for an 11.4” unit. It also has a heated steering wheel, windshield, and washer nozzles, Autoblog reports, and rubber floor mats for the rear cargo area. Plus, it gets extra off-road driving modes, off-road cruise control, and a 360° camera system for spotting obstacles.

How can you get one?

Land Rover is only making 220 Defender Trophy Editions for the US, with orders starting in August 2021. And if you want one, prices start at $90,000 before destination.

It’s worth noting that the Trophy Edition’s extra off-road features aren’t exclusive. They’re available as option packages on the regular Defender 110. So, if you can’t get your hands on the Camel Trophy-liveried Defender, you can recreate it mechanically. Though Autoblog notes such an SUV will still cost around $85,000.

However, as noted earlier, that $90,000 asking price includes more than just the color scheme. Defender Trophy Edition buyers get a two-person entry to the US Trophy Competition. It’s an off-road race set at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, spread out over 8000 acres. The teams get one-on-one coaching from Land Rover representatives before the race. And the winning team goes on to the final round at the UK’s Eastnor Castle.

But if you want to christen your limited-edition Land Rover in a mini-Camel Trophy, you’ll have to get in line fast. Only the first 90 buyers get entries into the Trophy Competition.

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RELATED: The 2021 Land Rover Defender Is on a Cool New Mission

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Tesla Reports That Its Cars Catch Fire Way Less Than Others, but Its Data Is Deceptive

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla is always in the news, showing off new technology and innovating the EV segment. But the automaker has also been in the headlines for accidents and fires. Car safety is being called into question, and consumers are beginning to wonder if EVs pose a higher risk.

In response, Tesla reminds everyone that its cars catch fire far less frequently than others. However, a deeper dive into the data reveals those statements might be deceptive on the surface.

Tesla EVs catching fire and making headlines

Inside EVs reports that one electric vehicle catches fire for about 205 million miles traveled. That’s a whopping 10 times higher than the average distance driven per fire, around 19 million miles, per the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Department of Transportation. And that reflects data from 2012 to 2020. Of those fires, Tesla’s badge is prominent. 

The headlines lately, including one from the Washington Post, talk about Tesla’s new Model S Plaid catching fire and momentarily trapping the driver inside when the electronic doors failed to open. The Model S Plaid just launched in June and is already reporting a fire incident. It has many observers questioning the safety of EVs in general and, specifically, Tesla.

The Tesla data seems skewed

Tesla | Filip Radwanski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Sure, anytime something happens with Tesla, it makes the news. And the media might make it seem like many of its EVs are catching fire. But Tesla points to the data that suggests it’s really an anomaly and not the norm. The automaker says these cases are simply accidents getting publicity because they involve Tesla EVs.

Unfortunately, relying on the data alone, in this case, ignores a few key factors. For example, Tesla is a relatively new company, meaning its vehicles haven’t been on the road for long. And another consideration is the production rate. Tesla makes far fewer cars than other brands. Shifting the fire risks to the gas-powered vehicles really isn’t a fair fight and not an apples-to-apples comparison.

Are EVs safer or more dangerous than gas-powered vehicles?

Tesla EVs aren’t the only ones with problematic lithium-ion batteries going rogue. A quick Wikipedia search pulls up a roster of others cited for safety issues regarding fires, including the Chevy Volt, Fisker Karma, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and Dodge Ram 1500 PHEV. And even more dangerous regarding the Tesla incidents is the fact that these fires don’t always happen during crashes but also while some are just parked, The Drive reports.

Some sources suggest EVs are safer for passengers when it comes to reducing risks in crash-related incidents because, in part, most have the latest safety features and technology. And gas does produce a flammable risk, making those vehicles seem more dangerous.

However, fire experts told Business Insider that liquid and dead shorts can lead to spontaneous combustion in a lithium-ion battery. Spontaneous fires involving the Tesla Model 3, Model S, and Model X have all been reported. In response, Tesla pushed an over-the-air update to Model X and Model S fleets in the hopes of enhancing thermal management. But the EV maker says there’s still no real reason for safety or fire concerns and hasn’t issued any recalls or technical service bulletins.

For now, because Tesla is such a new company, with fewer cars in operation, comparing fires in EVs to fires in gas models just doesn’t square well. However you choose to power your car, it’s important to understand the science of flammable gas and short-prone batteries. Fires can happen in either scenario, and it’s probably best to have a plan in place so that you know how to handle them and protect yourself if they occur.

RELATED: Hear Us Out: It’s Actually a Good Thing That the Tesla Cybertruck Looks Ugly

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No, Driver Assistance and Self-Driving Are Not the Same Things

by Gabrielle DeSantis

I’m here today to clear up a misunderstanding I’ve noticed of late about autonomous vehicles and driving assists. Yesterday, I had an interaction with a family member that went something like this, after I asked how she liked her new Lincoln SUV. “It’s fantastic! It’s self-driving!” Well, no, it certainly is not. In fact, not even Tesla’s drive themselves, and that’s part of the misunderstanding that I’m here to clear up.

Autonomous vehicle marketing is to blame

Tesla Autopilot is not self-driving | Chris Walker via Getty Images

Largely, the way that autonomous vehicles are marketed is the culprit for my family member’s misunderstanding. Tesla makes a fantastic EV, but some of its tech is marketed as something it certainly is not. Frankly, I could write a whole article on that, and have. However, I’m here in service to the reader, so I’ll save you a click. Basically, the name Autopilot is misleading. Autopilot means adaptive cruise control.

That means your car stops and goes with the flow of traffic, still needing input from you. That is a driver assist, not self-driving. It’s the same story with other brands, though some are careful not to use the word “self-driving”. Take Cadillac for example. On the surface, Super Cruise is much the same as Musk’s FSD. It steers, stops, and goes. Unfortunately, still not self-driving because it requires occasional driver input.

Driver assists do not a self-driving car make

A Cruise self-driving car in California
Still not self-driving… yet | Andrej Sokolow via Getty Images

So, let’s talk a little bit about what defines these two terms: self-driving, and driver assists. First, let’s start with the former. True full self-driving is sort of like the cars in Westworld. You get in, tell the computer where you want to go, and interact no further with it. That’s what the NHSTA defines as level six, or full self-driving. Presently, Super Cruise and Tesla FSD are right around level 4, very close to each brand’s credit.

Now about driver assists. This is where my family member’s error lies. She made the assumption that Lincoln’s adaptive cruise control system is what constitutes self-driving. As we now know, it isn’t. It’s a driver assist. There’s nothing wrong with that, just a simple error. For example, even just plain old cruise control counts as a driver assist. So does blind-spot monitoring.

How to cut through the marketing B.S.

The stalk which operates the cruise control in a vehicle
Cruise control is a driver assist | Christopher Evans via Getty Images

Unfortunately, we’ve started seeing driver assists confused with full self-driving because of marketing. In some ways, it’s not Tesla’s or anyone’s fault anymore. We the public now have it in our heads that anything that helps us drive our cars every day is self-driving. But it’s not, and that’s why I said “helps us drive our cars.” So, next time you see an ad on TV showing a smiling person, hands off the wheel, wind in their hair, remember: A driver assist does not equal a fully self-driving car. For now, that’s still many years away.

RELATED: Tesla Full Self-Driving vs Autopilot – Which Is Which?

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