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When players think of Playground Games' Forza Horizon 4, it's usually the sprawling races and rough, chaotic scrambles that come to mind. Yet, an underrated feature of this epic, open-world racer is its swift, straightforward drag races. These take the form of quick sprints to the finish — which have players hit the ground running as they show off their speedy rides.
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These races "strip" away the bells and whistles of the game's more elaborate events; focusing on speed above all, while hearkening back to a simpler era in arcade racers. Despite their simplicity, these skirmishes showcase the exhilarating, adrenaline-fueled nature of Forza Horizon 4 in its purest, most undiluted form. There are plenty of good options, though there are many cars that can truly blow the hair back of players, increasing their odds of a first-place finish.
Updated September 24, 2024 by Stephen LaGioia: Despite the release of the even more vibrant and robust Forza Horizon 5, many gamers have returned to the joy rides of Great Britain's streets and off-road locales in this appealing fourth entry. This is partly because of recent discounts drawing newcomers, along with news that the game will be exiting Microsoft's Game Pass and other digital storefronts in December.
As such, the game's lush open world has been repopulated by an influx of players, who have been reminded just how well this now six-year-old game has aged. With a massive list of activities, and a car lineup as extensive and awesome as ever, it seemed time to revisit and fine-tune this list.
A Brief Summary Of Drag Racing In Forza Horizon 4
The Drag Strip segments, in many ways, distill things down to pure speed and — quite literally — straightforward scrambles to the finish. Players will be tasked with competing in several drag strips strewn about Great Britain, leading to the eventual unlocking of The Juggernaut upon reaching the fourth tier.
While these quick, linear dashes may seem simple, selecting the right car is particularly crucial in these bouts — as player skill largely takes a "back seat" to the raw power and abilities of the car driven. Of course, speed is the key here, though launch, as well as aerodynamic designs, also go a long way. These traits can be the difference in edging out opponents on the raceways.
14 Dodge Dart Hemi Super Stock
125,000 Credits (At The Autoshow)
While it may bring a more modest appearance, this retro Dodge has it where it counts. Tailor-made essentially for drag racing, this rare relic is built particularly light and solid when it comes to coasting along drag strip straightaways.
The car is stripped of any mirrors, radio, and even a backseat, while sporting a bolted hood and fiberglass nose/fenders for ample control and smooth driving. Despite having a tepid BHP (brake horsepower), this pre-tuned muscle car has stellar launch abilities at 8.5 and pretty good acceleration to boot.
13 AMC Hornet X Hatchback (James Bond Edition)
35,000 CR
There have been several cars homaging the iconic British agent James Bond, including variants of the famed Astin Martin as well as a 90's classic BMW. Lesser known — but no less effective — is this star from the 1974 film, The Man With The Golden Gun.
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Bringing more meager stats overall, this is more of a novelty car compared to some of the sleeker, more potent options. Yet, the AMC Hornet is a decent way to hold one's own with drag strip racers while on a budget — and playing out a brief Roger Moore-era Bond impression in the process. Given how cheap it is, this car can certainly hit the ground running when upgraded, and maintains a fairly high speed afterward.
12 Koenigsegg Jesko
Not At Autoshow - Horizon Backstage Pass, Forzathon Shop, Or Festival Playlist Reward
This Swedish beast absolutely flies across the many roads of Great Britain, charged by a 5L twin-turbocharged V8 engine and 1280 BHP. Its rear wing keeps the car grounded and even-keeled when hitting sky-high speeds, making it a good selection for street races as well.
But really, this hypercar excels in almost any street-based setting, as it can heat up to almost a whopping 300 mph if properly tuned and upgraded. While yielding almost perfect stats across the board (with the S2 998 upgrade), the Jesko has a relatively meager acceleration stat, so it's perhaps best suited for longer drag strips and raceways. Still, this car is virtually unstoppable in almost any raceway scenario.
11 Mosler MT900S
Not At Autoshow - Horizon Backstage Pass, Forzathon Shop, Or Festival Playlist Reward
This 2010 American production car is about as sleek as they come — and has the capabilities to measure up to its looks. The car is powered by a 7L supercharged V8, and zips effortlessly across the vast roads with a weight of 2,480 lbs and a 6-speed transmission.
The car can rev up to 60 mph in just over three seconds and easily hits a top speed hovering around the 210 mph mark. Not that it's needed on the drag strip straightaways, but the car brings great handling for its speed — and acceleration as well as launch are both off the charts.
10 Porsche 906 Carrera 6
Not At Autoshow - Horizon Backstage Pass, Forzathon Shop, Or Festival Playlist Reward
Being equipped with a 210 BHP carbureted flat-six engine, this 1966 classic from Germany boasts a ride that's smooth, even-keeled, and surprisingly speedy. Of course, when it comes to this retro racing car from Porsche, there are faster cars to choose from.
Still, above-average acceleration and solid launch abilities make it a great choice for those bite-sized drag races. The Porsche 906 Carrera 6 will hit the ground running and leave opponents in the dust fairly quickly and easily. This antique is something of a collectible for car enthusiasts, being a Hard-to-Find car that can't be found at the Autoshow.
9 Koenigsegg Agera RS
2,000,000 CR
Held back only a tad from its more lukewarm acceleration, this rear-wheel-drive (RWD) hypercar is otherwise an easy pick for frenzied drag races. After all, the Koenigsegg Agera RS is the fastest stock production car, not only in Forza Horizon 4 but in the entire Forza series.
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Thanks to its 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8, and a whopping 1341 bhp, this beast can fly through the streets, hitting a sky-high speed of 280 mph. While handling leaves a bit to be desired, this is hardly a concern when zipping across the drag racing straightaways anyway. This elite vehicle can be had at the Autoshow for 2,000,000 CR, though it's quite worth the steep asking price.
8 Ferrari 599XX Evolution
Not At Autoshow - Horizon Backstage Pass, Forzathon Shop, Or Festival Playlist Reward
It's hard to leave these classic Italian luxury cars out of the conversation when it comes to fast racing cars, and the 599XX Evolution reminds players why Ferrari is such an icon in this regard. With a 6.0L naturally-aspirated V12 and 740 bhp, this awesome supercar hits a stock top speed of 240 mph but can fly at up to a whopping 320 mph when maxed out.
Being the fastest car in the game with these enhancements, this 2012 car from Italy is a no-brainer when it comes to the fast-paced thrill ride that is drag racing. As a nice bonus perk, it has great handling to back up its super speed, making it a good choice for Speed Zones and Speed Trap PR Stunts as well.
7 Toyota Supra RZ
250,000 CR
Touted as having a motor that's "the stuff of legend" and generating loads of horsepower — the Supra RZ thrives as both a swift, powerful race car and a luxury sports car. Discontinued in 2022, this car reaffirmed its racing chops and proved it could hang with the elites of the modern era with its 2019 relaunch.
When laced with the S1 class preset, the Supra Horizon RZ Edition shines as the fastest S1 class car when it comes to top speed. It can hit a lightning-quick 248 mph and boasts solid launch abilities to boot. This car can be scored at the Autoshow, though it is also won upon hitting Tier 2 in Horizon Life: The Eliminator.
6 Maserati MC12 FE
Unlock The "MC12 FE" Skill For The Maserati 300 S
While each sibling in the Maserati MC12 family thrives in its own way, the Forza Edition particularly gets the job done when it comes to drag races. After all, it's a great upgraded variant that boasts a Speed Skills enhancement as well as a more potent upgrade preset of S2 997.
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It's also highly aerodynamic; a major plus for zipping down the straightaways unhindered. A mainstay in the Forza franchise, this RWD supercar proves it's still one of the best for racing, hitting speeds well over 200 mph and doing so in a hurry with its great launch capability.
5 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 FE
Not At Autoshow - Wheelspin Or Super Wheelspin Prize
Laced with a 6.5L naturally-aspirated V12 and 700 bhp, the default model of this luxury supercar is far from a slouch — though as is usually the case, the Forza Edition brings further enhancements. This edition offers an S2 997 upgrade preset that brings a maxed-out engine with even more horsepower.
These more potent presets make this Lambo one of the fastest cars in the game; and quite easy on the eyes as it dazzles opponents in its wake. It requires merely a few seconds to hit a solid 100 mph, and quickly hits a warp speed of 270 mph, which excels beyond most SR class cars when it comes to straight-line performance. With stellar abilities in speed, launch, and acceleration, this one is a must-drive.