FH5, Series 23 and more importantly, Series 24

The content of Series 23 has been revealed, but immediately overshadowed by the news that Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia will be returning to the game in Series 24.

Although Series 23 may be called Summer Party, it really ought to be called the American Automotive Update (which as we now know sometime later, is series 27) since all we’re getting is a bunch of American muscle cars, the McLaren 765LT, and an SF90. This will be the third time the last of these has been a reward and yet there’s still no sign of the F8 Tributo making a second appearance in the game. The Deberti Mustang returns, although I can already hear a chorus of complaints about yet another Mustang. I like this particular car, but I could do without the other fat old American bangers that are about as redolent of summer as Christmas decorations. Of course, cue the usual hysterical sorts who think American muscle cars are the greatest ever etc. I assume the YouTubers will all claim this is the greatest update ever as well.

Except they may just be paying lip service to the transitory hype machine because of series 24.

Yes, the missing Stellantis brands are back, but let’s not get too overexcited. Theoretically, we could have a minimum of twelve cars from these brands, which is still some way short of the number in FH4. Other cars might come from Eventlabs, the Eliminator, Horizon Open etc., but I wouldn’t bet on it. Nor would I bet on all twelve series cars being from the Stellantis stable (although I shan’t complain if one of the reward cars is the overdue F8 Tributo) or being copy-and-paste jobs from FH4.

So, what would I like to see from missing manufacturers? The Alfa Romeo Giulia (we might even get an updated one), the 4C and 8C, the TZ2 and the 33 Stradale; the Fiat Abarth 131 (which I used to do the latest daily in FH4 this morning) and the 695; the Lancia Delta Integrale, the Stratos and the Fulvia.

But if we get genuinely new cars rather than all copy-and-paste from Horizon 4, none of these manufacturers have much of a range. Alfa Romeo still has the Giulia, but the Tonale and the Stelvio are SUVs (frankly, ugh). Fiat Abarth have the 595/695 models and an EV in a lurid green (and what’s the bet we get the lurid green EV?) Fiat proper only have the 500 and 500C on their UK website. Lancia has some sort of ghastly-looking EV concept and that’s it.

The question to which we won’t have an answer for another month is whether any of the cars will be new and what’s getting copied from Horizon 4. There will be screechy, disappointed fanboys, and I may be one of them.