Forza Horizon 6 Series 5 Update Adds Permanent Drift Attack, New British Cars and Major Festival Changes

British Automotive Update Brings Drift Attack, New Cars, Events and Fresh Challenges to Horizon Japan

The latest update, called British Automotive, arrived on September 7 and introduces a new permanent gameplay feature that could become one of the most popular activities for players who enjoy technical driving.

That feature is Drift Attack.

Unlike a temporary event, Drift Attack is being added as a permanent part of Forza Horizon 6.

The update also celebrates British automotive history with new cars, a British Automotive Takeover near Horizon Stadium, fresh Festival Playlist events and additional rewards.

For players who prefer drifting over traditional racing, this update changes the way they can spend time in Horizon Japan.

At the same time, Playground Games has again confirmed that the PlayStation 5 version is still scheduled to arrive later in 2026, although a specific release date has not yet been announced.

Drift Attack Becomes a Permanent Feature

The biggest gameplay addition in Series 5 is Drift Attack.

Players can access the new activity at the Shimanoyama Circuit, where the goal is to build the highest possible score by keeping cars sideways through the course.

This is different from simply drifting around normal roads.

Drift Attack is designed around scoring.

Players need to maintain controlled slides, connect sections together and maximize their points without losing the run.

The new mode also encourages players to adjust their cars specifically for drifting.

That can mean changing handling, power delivery, tire setup and other tuning options to create a vehicle that is easier to control while sliding.

Because the feature is permanent, players do not need to worry about missing a limited-time event.

The Drift Attack circuit is now part of the broader Horizon experience and can be revisited whenever players want to improve their scores.

The New Jaguar XJ-S Forza Edition Is Built for Drifting

One of the most interesting rewards connected to Drift Attack is the 1990 Jaguar XJ-S Forza Edition.

This special version has been designed specifically around sideways driving.

The Jaguar can be unlocked through Drift Attack progression, giving players an immediate reason to experiment with the new activity.

The standard version of the 1990 Jaguar XJ-S has also been added permanently to the Autoshow.

That is an important detail because players are not limited to earning the Forza Edition variant.

Anyone looking to create their own build can use the standard car and tune it according to their preferences.

The XJ-S is therefore more than just another collectible.

It is directly connected to the update's main gameplay focus.

British Automotive Takes Over Horizon Stadium

Series 5 also introduces a British Automotive Takeover near the Horizon Stadium.

The event celebrates several generations of British automotive engineering.

The takeover brings a themed environment and new activities into Horizon Japan.

This gives the open world another seasonal focal point while also supporting the update's broader British-car theme.

Rather than simply adding three vehicles to the garage, Playground Games has connected them to a wider Festival Playlist experience.

Players can therefore earn the new cars while participating in events specifically designed around the British Automotive theme.

Three New Cars Join the Horizon Festival

The Festival Playlist introduces three cars that are new to the Horizon series.

They are:

2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed

The newest Bentley in the update combines luxury with serious performance and becomes one of the more modern British additions available through the playlist.

2019 Ginetta G40 Junior

The Ginetta provides something very different from the heavy performance cars normally associated with the category.

Its smaller size makes it particularly interesting for players who enjoy lighter and more agile driving.

2006 Vauxhall Astra VXR

The Astra VXR adds a hot-hatch option to the British lineup.

It offers a very different driving experience compared with the Bentley, making the three-car selection unusually varied.

Together, these vehicles cover modern luxury performance, lightweight track driving and practical performance motoring.

The Festival Playlist Gets Fresh Events

Series 5 also refreshes the Festival Playlist with new British-themed activities.

The current series begins its Festival Playlist phase on September 10 at 2:30 PM UTC, following the initial update availability.

Players can then work through a new set of events, challenges and reward objectives.

That distinction between update availability and Festival Playlist timing is worth remembering.

The game update became available on September 7, but some of the seasonal content starts later.

This structure is familiar to regular Forza players.

Playground Games can deploy the technical update first and then rotate the event content throughout the series.

Four New Cars Come Through the Car Pass

Car Pass owners receive additional content alongside the free Series 5 update.

Four vehicles are joining the Car Pass lineup.

One of the highlighted additions is the 2025 McLaren W1.

The car comes with advanced painting options that allow players to customize individual parts.

That gives it an extra layer of visual personalization beyond the standard livery system.

For players who collect cars rather than simply race them, these details are especially useful.

The update also includes new clothing, a Player Badge and a Drift Tire Mascot Collectible that players can find in the Shimanoyama region.

These smaller additions may not change the core racing experience, but they add more reasons to explore the updated world.

Tuning Matters More With Drift Attack

Drift Attack could also change how players approach tuning.

In ordinary races, grip is usually one of the most important priorities.

Drifting is different.

Players need to balance power and control.

Too little power and the car may struggle to maintain a slide.

Too much power and the vehicle can become difficult to control.

The best Drift Attack cars will therefore depend on tuning rather than simply having the highest performance rating.

This could encourage more players to experiment with Forza Horizon 6's tuning system.

Instead of copying a conventional road-racing setup, players need to think about how a car behaves while deliberately breaking traction.

Shimanoyama Circuit Becomes More Important

The Shimanoyama Circuit is now one of the most important locations for drift-focused players.

The circuit provides a dedicated environment for the new scoring system.

That makes it easier for players to practice and compare their performance.

The wider Japan map still remains available for traditional drifting through mountain roads and other areas, but Drift Attack provides a more structured alternative.

For competitive players, this could also create a new personal challenge.

Players can attempt to improve scores, refine their routes and build specialized drift cars.

The result is a gameplay loop that can continue long after the initial update has been downloaded.

Forza Horizon 6 Still Has a Massive Japanese Open World

Although Series 5 focuses on British vehicles, the game's main setting remains Japan.

Forza Horizon 6 features a large recreation of Japan containing both urban and rural environments.

Xbox describes it as the biggest open-world driving adventure in the Horizon series, with more than 550 real-world cars available across the game.

The world includes Tokyo City, mountain roads, countryside environments and varied landscapes.

That combination remains one of the biggest attractions of the game.

The British Automotive update simply adds another thematic layer on top of that foundation.

What About the Forza Horizon 6 PS5 Version?

The PS5 version continues to be one of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding Forza Horizon 6.

When the game was originally announced, Microsoft and Playground Games confirmed that it would launch on Xbox and PC first, followed by PlayStation 5 later in the year.

That plan has recently come under attention because of reports suggesting that the PS5 version could slip into 2027.

However, Playground Games' latest communication has reiterated that the PS5 launch remains planned for 2026.

There is still no firm PS5 release date.

That means players on Sony's console have to wait for another announcement.

For now, the important point is that the developer has not publicly moved the game to 2027.

Why the PS5 Version Is Important

Forza Horizon has historically been closely associated with Xbox and PC.

Forza Horizon 6 represents a major change by bringing the series to PlayStation 5.

That makes the upcoming port commercially important for Microsoft and Playground Games.

A broader audience means the game's player community could become even larger.

It could also make cross-platform multiplayer and shared progression increasingly important parts of the long-term Horizon ecosystem.

Playground Games has already built Forza Horizon 6 around cross-save functionality across its supported platforms, giving the eventual PS5 release a smoother path for existing players.

Series 5 Is More Than a Car Pack

The most important thing about the British Automotive update is that Playground Games is not simply adding vehicles.

The developers have added an entirely new permanent activity.

That matters because recurring open-world racing games need systems that can keep players engaged between major releases.

Drift Attack gives players something different to do.

It is score-driven rather than purely race-driven.

It encourages specialized tuning.

And because it is permanent, it can remain part of the game's long-term activity rotation.

That is more meaningful than a temporary themed event that disappears after a few weeks.

The Update Also Gives Drifting Its Own Identity

Drifting has always been part of Forza Horizon.

Players can already slide cars through mountain roads, city streets and custom routes.

But Drift Attack formalizes the activity into a dedicated scoring system.

That gives drifting a stronger identity within the game.

Players who enjoy traditional circuit racing have their races.

Off-road fans have dirt events and exploration.

Now drift-focused players have a more structured challenge built specifically around their preferred driving style.

This could encourage a new community around leaderboard chasing and drift-tuning setups.

What Players Should Expect Next

The British Automotive series will continue rotating through the Festival Playlist while players explore the new content.

More cars, events and themed rewards are expected as the series progresses.

The larger Forza Horizon 6 roadmap will also continue expanding the game's Japan setting through additional cars, playlists and future content.

For players waiting for PlayStation 5, the immediate priority is different.

They will be watching for a firm release date.

The fact that Playground Games continues to mention the PS5 version in its current updates suggests that the port is still an active part of the plan.

However, without a confirmed date, players should treat later in 2026 as the current target rather than a guaranteed launch day.

Forza Horizon 6 Series 5 is a meaningful update because it adds a permanent gameplay feature instead of relying only on new cars and seasonal cosmetics.

Drift Attack gives players a dedicated scoring-based drifting experience at Shimanoyama Circuit, while the British Automotive theme adds the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed, 2019 Ginetta G40 Junior and 2006 Vauxhall Astra VXR to the Festival Playlist.

The 1990 Jaguar XJ-S Forza Edition is another standout reward for players who want a vehicle designed specifically around drifting.

Car Pass owners also receive additional cars, while new collectibles, clothing and events add more reasons to return to Horizon Japan.

The update also keeps attention on one of the biggest upcoming milestones for the franchise: the PS5 version.

Although rumors recently suggested a delay into 2027, Playground Games has reiterated that the PS5 release is still planned for later in 2026.

There is no exact date yet.

For current Xbox and PC players, however, there is already plenty to explore.

With permanent Drift Attack, fresh British cars and another Festival Playlist rotation, Series 5 gives Forza Horizon 6 a useful gameplay refresh while the game continues building toward its next major platform expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is new in Forza Horizon 6 Series 5?

Series 5 adds permanent Drift Attack, a British Automotive Takeover, new cars, Festival Playlist events, Car Pass vehicles and additional cosmetic rewards.