O-Sense
The countdown continues with now less than a month to the launch of “Forza Motorsport 5.” This week, Turn 10 Studios ups the ante of cars with a mix of JDM, classics, exotics and American muscle. You want to go fast? The Hennessey Venom is ready to show you acceleration you never knew. You want to drag? The Chevy Nova SS is ready to burn rubber. If you are longing to build your ultimate drift machine, the ever-reliable form of the Nissan 240 SX is now confirmed. You can view the full list here to find your favorite.
2009 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works
For those seeking the ultimate factory Mini, the John Cooper Works edition should satisfy and then some. More than 200 horsepower reside under the hood, compared to the 175 HP of the Cooper S. This is brought forth via a larger turbocharger, a revised cylinder head, and a little work to the intake plumbing. Coupled with a beefier clutch and mildly modified transmission, all that new-found power is ready to be put to good use. The Mini Cooper has always been a nimble little hot-hatch. The John Cooper Works edition gives you the best you can buy off the showroom floor.
2013 Audi R8 Coupé V10 plus 5.2 FSI quattro
Make no mistake: This is a race car in street dress. This top-spec R8 is ready to hit the track to demonstrate its superiority and remind any driver of its race-bred upbringing. If Audi’s success on the racetracks of the world for nearly 100 years has escaped you, a few turns in this R8 will tell you all you need to know. The mid-engined FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection) 5.2-liter V10 delivers awe-inspiring horsepower and screams to an epic 8,700 RPM. Power is put to the wheels via Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system. Via continuously variable torque distribution, power is adjusted dynamically to the wheels with the most grip. The system is significantly rear-biased, making a drift or tail-happy wag possible, but only with severe coaxing. Above all, the quattro system is inspires utter confidence in the driver and will pull the R8 through the tightest corners with ease.
2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe
It might be an entry-level Bimmer, but the 1 Series M Coupe has the same swagger of all the “ultimate driving machines” and hangs tough when compared to its much more expensive sibling, the M3. The 1 Series M Coupe, in fact, borrows heavily from the M3, but only where it needs to. You won’t find a high-revving naturally aspirated motor up front but rather the twin-turbo, 335 horsepower engine straight out of the Z4. On track, the 1 M will surprise you with its quick steering and adept cornering skills. Sure, the package is a conglomerate of BMW hero car components, but in this case, that is a good thing.
2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4
Just being in the presence of an Aventador is enough to make one feel regal. Named after a legendary bull that put up a crowd-thrilling fight in the Spanish fighting ring, the Aventador is ready to do battle on the tracks of “Forza Motorsport 5.” As a replacement for the Murcielago, the Aventador takes performance to thrilling new heights. Although the age of flying cars is not yet here, certainly the Aventador would be fit for the era; and, on track, it does fly. The Aventador bolts through the quarter mile in less than eleven seconds and will have you sucking for air under full acceleration. The Aventador is everything an exotic car should be.
