At long last, one of my favorite auto manufacturers has returned to the Forza Franchise: Porsche! 10 cars, new and old, were included in this $10 pack, and 2 bonus cars were announced a few days ago (only available until July 24th), bringing the total number of Porsches to 12. Sounds good to me. Even though I wish there were more cars (the classic 1967 911 or the new Cayman GT4, anyone?), the fact that Porsche was even able to make an appearance in Forza Horizon 2 (and soon, Forza Motorsport 6) makes me pretty damn happy. So, without further adieu, let the reviews begin!
2015 Macan Turbo | The Odd One Out
Every time I look at this thing, I ask: why? Why is this here? Why, of all the cars Turn 10 could’ve introduced, was the Macan included in the roster? Why not the brutally-quick 911 GT1 Straßenversion, the elegantly-simplistic 1967 911, or the epic Cayman GT4? Hell, I probably would’ve preferred the 928 GT to this thing (although I’m not trying to say the 928 is bad). Anyway, since it’s here, I might as well review it. And I have to say, despite the annoyance I felt towards this thing, it isn’t actually too bad. To start, it gets a turbocharged 3.0L V6 engine with a peak output of 400hp, which, for an SUV weighing in at over 2 tons, isn’t too shabby. While the actual acceleration isn’t what I’d call blistering, it feels pretty quick for such a big SUV. Additionally, since this is in FH2, you have the option to tune up the engine (or to swap it out altogether), so if you want more “go”, you can get it. The handling isn't all to bad, either; it almost feels like you're driving a tall hatchback rather than the 2-ton behemoth this thing is... except you can go offroad due to the 4WD system and suspension. Despite being the odd-one-out among the rear-engined coupes and mid-engined hypercars in Forza Horizon 2's Porsche Expansion, the Macan Turbo seems to be pretty brilliant in its own right, especially for an SUV.
1989 944 Turbo | The Underdog
The 944 Turbo doesn't seem to fit in with the other Porsches, either. Firstly, it isn't rear-engined, and instead of the usual flat-6 engine, there's only an inline-4 under the hood. While the styling can't really be described as "ugly", it certainly isn't very high up on the list of Porsche's best designs. On first (and second) glance, it doesn't seem like this Porsche has very much going for it. Except... it does. To start, for a late-'80s, front-engined, RWD coupe, it has pretty decent handling, even at speed. Secondly, even though it only has an inline-4, it is turbocharged, so it puts out around 220hp (up from the 187hp of the base 944), which gives it decent acceleration once more. Also, the bodywork has that late-'80s charm, with a wedge-like front fascia, pop-up headlights, and a sloped rear hatch window outlined by a matte-black spoiler. This may not be the most beautiful or fastest Porsche, but it's unique in its own right, and I have to say... I took a liking to this car as well.
1982 911 Turbo 3.3 |
With the pack comes another '80s Porsche, but this time, it's the good-ol' 911 Turbo. This one should fit in just fine with the rest. After all, it has 3.3-liters of turbo flat-6 fun in the trunk (remember, rear-engined), pumping out 300hp to the rear wheels of a platform weighing just over one-and-a-quarter tons. The rear-biased weight distribution allows for plenty of grip to go towards the rear wheels, allowing for brilliantly-fun handling (and plenty of sliding). The styling? Classically 911, with two circular headlamps extending from the fenders, surprisingly-wide wheel arches, black-and-chrome 5-spoke wheels, and a sloping rear trunk lid leading down to the taillamps. This car is fantastic for touring the streets of Nice in Forza Horizon 2's map, as it can handle the tight corners with ease while putting plenty of power to the asphalt. I'll definitely be taking this one out for a drive or two... well, maybe three...
1970 914/6 | Simply Beautiful
This is another one of those cars that makes me smile, even by taking a quick glance at it. Most of you probably know my love for the Mazda MX-5, but this thing... this is way further up on my list of favorites. In my eyes, this car is like the MX-5, just... better. Not only does it have fantastic handling due to the short wheelbase and low center-of,gravity, but it's also mid-engined. Oh, and since this is the 914/6 version, it has another one of Porsche's signature flat-6 engines. With rear-wheel drive. And with such simple yet beautiful styling. It may not be the fastest Porsche in the lineup (in fact, I think it's the slowest), but... I think I've fallen in love with this car. It just has so much character in every little detail, from the '60s 5-spoke Porsche wheels, to the flat-6's soundtrack, and even the various color options (especially the blue seen in the picture) paired with the black roof. To me, this is the perfect classic car for cruising on the winding streets of Nice or Montellino in Forza Horizon 2.
1987 959 | The Automotive Dream
Ahh, yes. The Porsche 959. This is the car that many consider to be the coolest car of the '80s, and with good reason. First off, it was the fastest street-legal production car of the '80s, with a top speed of 195mph and a bi-turbocharged flat-6 putting out 444hp (what a coincidence!). Secondly, it's longer, lower, and more aerodynamic than the 911, and has a unique bodystyle to match (although it maintains some similarities with the 911 i.e. the taillamps and headlamps). Combine the fact that the 959 is so long and low with the handling that comes with a rear-engined Porsche and you get an epic, classic sports car. It's maintained all of these defining features in Forza Horizon 2, and it was an absolute dream to drive again after first testing it in Forza Motorsport 4.
2003 Carrera GT | The V10 Porsche
A V10? In a Porsche?! Yep, there's a V10 in the back of this thing - rather, it's in the middle. This is quite a standout for a company famous for its flat-6, rear-engined designs. And yet... it works. As with the 959, it has a long and low profile, but it's far more aerodynamic (and has an active-aero wing), keeping it planted to the ground at its top speed of 205mph. This thing has no problem reaching that top speed, either, as the 5.7-liter V10 engine puts out an astounding 612hp. Oh, and since it's mid-engined, it can take on corners pretty well, although it can get a little tricky to control its constant sliding. This was another very, very fun car to drive in Forza Horizon 2, especially on the highways where you can open up the throttle to reach the 205mph top speed.
2012 911 GT3 RS 4.0 | Built for the Track
As soon as you see any 911 with a GT3 RS badge, you know it means business. While the "standard" 2012 911 GT3 RS was already near-perfect for track days, the 4.0 is even better. It has power, 500hp of it. It has handling, with Porsche's signature rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel-drive setup (and it isn't afraid to go sideways). Oh, and it looks absolutely fantastic, with an added set of diffusers on the front bumper, dark-gray paint around the front air inlets, gray-and-red striping along the sides, hood, and roof, a massive wing emblazoned with the Porsche name, and a mid-mounted pair of exhaust pipes, delivering the flat-6's epic soundtrack directly to anyone behind you (and they'll be staying there, too). As far as 911s go, this is by far one of the best versions for the track, especially in Forza Horizon 2's supercar race events.
2014 918 Spyder | Over-the-top Brilliance
I've driven the 918 Concept in a few different games now, and I thought those were fantastic. However, the road-going version is on a whole new level of awesome. Going slightly against the traditional Porsche design, this hypercar has a 4.7-liter V8 in tandem with a pair of electric motors, delivering a staggering 887hp to the wheels in total (608 from the V8, 279 from the motors). It combines this with an active-aero wing, a body designed with aerodynamics in mind, and a super-low profile to give the car fantastic grip, especially towards its approximate top speed of 210mph. The aerodynamic and low-profile body also gives the car a menacing look, with wide fenders, 20-to-21-inch wheels (F/R), new head-and-taillamps, and exhaust outlets spitting fire from the top of the engine deck. I can still remember when people said hybrid technology was going to ruin the supercar after the Prius became popular, but this car is a slap to the face to those people. Who said a hybrid couldn't be fun?
2015 Cayman GTS | The “Poor-Man’s Porsche”, only Better
EDIT: REVIEW DID NOT SAVE, rewriting soon
2014 911 Carrera Turbo S | 51 Years of Refinement
Mother of god. This has to be one of the best 911s yet. 560hp from a twin-turbo flat-6? Yes, please! This thing is ridiculously fast. Sure, it isn't quite as fast as the hyper-quick 918, but it's more than enough for a car like this. Despite the power increase, this car hasn't lost its amazing handling, either: it still takes corners like a dream, and it gives you just the right amount of grip at just the right moments, allowing you to slide the tail out when you want with ease. Porsche even managed to keep the styling true to the 911 heritage with its circular headlamps, sloping rear engine deck, and frontal air inlets on both sides, and yet they've still made it look very up-to-date with a smooth front end, elongated LED taillamps, a low-and-wide stance, and sharp LED daytime running lights just above both air inlets on the front bumper. This is an absolute pleasure to drive, whether you want to race around the tight corners of Montinello or have a speed run down the main highways of Forza Horizon 2's map. I love it.
That's it for the Porsche Pack review! So, here comes the big question: is it worth it to buy the pack? And my answer is: YES. Completely. Each and every car (yes, even the Macan) has something unique and fun to offer, and it's not hard to see why.
Anyway, thanks for reading! Once again, I must apologize for all the delays to this (and the other two) reviews, but I hope you enjoyed reading it (and the other two, again)!
Anyway, thanks for reading! Once again, I must apologize for all the delays to this (and the other two) reviews, but I hope you enjoyed reading it (and the other two, again)!
EDIT: One quick note concerning the GT2RS and Cayenne Turbo, which were released as a free expansion to the pack: I decided not to include these two in the review, as, well... 10 reviews is a lot for me to write in one article. I may release a separate review of the GT2RS at some point, but the Cayenne is off the table (as it's a Cayenne, and I'm not a huge fan of the Cayenne).