Ford Falcon FG X XR8 lives on in virtual game

UPDATE: Five days after it was revealed that the Ford Falcon FGX XR8 and HSV GTS would have a starring role in the next instalment of the popular Forza Horizon racing game, developer Turn 10 Studios has announced Ford and HSV’s V8 heroes will be joined by a full cast of other Aussie automotive icons.

Set in a massive open-world map that mashes together some of Australia’s most notable driving environments like the Great Ocean Road on Victoria’s Southern coastline, the Gold Coast hinterland and the red centre, computer game Forza Horizon 3 will feature plenty of legendary Australian cars from past and present.

Besides the XR8 and GTS, previously-announced cars for Forza Horizon 3 included the Holden Torana A9X, Ford XB Falcon GT, FPV Pursuit ute and the FPV GT F 351. If Holden fans feel there’s too much ‘Blue’ in that list, they’ll no doubt be comforted by the news that the 2016 HSV GTS Maloo, 1951 Holden FX ute and 1974 Holden HQ ‘Sandman’ panel van will be joining them.

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It’s unknown whether Turn 10 has elected to render a well-worn mattress in the Sandman’s 3D model, though as with previous games in the Forza Horizon series you can expect a rich menu of engine, suspension and cosmetic modifications to be available – custom graphics perhaps being of the most interest for virtual Sandman fiends.

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Other performance icons announced for the game this week include the 1981 BMW M1, 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV, Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II, Nissan S15 Silvia Spec R, Bugatti EB110 Super Sport and the Jaguar XF R-S, plus American classics like the AMC Rebel “Machine”, 1970 Corvette ZR-1, 1966 Chevy Nova Super Sport, 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR and GMC Syclone.

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THE FORD Falcon is destined for the big car yard in the sky, but you may yet be able to own a new one after local manufacturing winds up on October 7.

The only catch is your new Falcon will be made up of pixels and data instead of steel and eight thundering cylinders.

The third iteration of computer game Forza’s Horizons racing series will be set in Australia, and hit shelves in September. Knowing full well you couldn’t have an open-world racing game in Australia without having some true-blue Aussie cars, the games designers – Turn 10 Studios – have dropped some fair dinkum flavour into the garage.

The first 150 of the game’s 350 available cars have been released, with the Ford Falcon FG X XR8 at the top of the available cars.

Other Australian cars available include the FPV GT F, FPV Pursuit Ute and FG X V8 Supercar. Holden fans haven’t been left out in the cold, with the iconic Torana A9X making the cut, alongside the HSV GTS.

Don’t tell the fun police, but you will also be able to drive the Ford Focus RS with its giant-slaying, wowser-whipping ‘Drift Mode'. Imagine the reaction when the media figures find out you can drive all these cars on virtual Aussie roads at whatever speed you see fit, with as much tyre smoke and hooning as quenches your thirst.

If European cars are more your thing, Forza has you covered with a mouth-watering array of classic supercars to choose from: a 1957 Ferrari 250 California; a 1964 Aston Martin DB5; a 1964 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport 409; a 1973 Ford Capri RS3100 and a 1983 Audi Sport Quattro through to more contemporary favourites including the 1993 McLaren F1; a 2012 Pagani Huayra; the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GT S and the 2015 Lamborghini #63 Squadra Corse Huracán LP620-2 Super Trofeo.

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Likewise, there’s no shortage of classic American muscle cars to select, including a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302; a 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge; a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T and a 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455.