Forza Motorsport, the premier racing video game, today announced a new car pack created in partnership with eBay Motors. The incredibly life-like graphics and realistic game play of Forza Motorsport gives racing enthusiasts a virtual yet visceral experience of piloting the world’s most exotic high-performance machines on the world’s greatest tracks. By partnering with eBay Motors—the leading online marketplace for auto enthusiasts—Forza is allowing fans who love to peruse online listings or shop for parts to experience some of history’s coolest and fastest cars from behind the wheel in a virtual cockpit.
The eBay Motors Car Pack for Forza Motorsport 6 will be available exclusively for Forza Motorsport 6 on Xbox One.
The new Forza eBay Motors pack includes the McLaren MP4/4, the legendary Formula One vehicle (shown above). When reigning F1 champion Lewis Hamilton got the chance to drive Ayrton Senna’s Formula One car, he said it was the best day in his life. The introduction of the MP4/4 in the eBay Motors pack gives Forza players a taste of that same thrill.
The other six cars in the eBay pack have made their own lasting marks on racing and car culture. The total pack gives a heart-pounding lesson in racing history.
1988 McLaren #12 Honda McLaren MP4/4
The MP4/4 is at the top of nearly any list of Formula One’s most dominant cars. After a disappointing season in 1987, McLaren recruited Team Lotus driver Ayrton Senna to join Frenchman Alain Prost in the team’s new car. The legendary drivers piloted the new MP4/4 low line chassis, powered by a screaming Honda V6 turbo engine. The pair won McLaren a Constructors’ Championship by a margin of 134 points in 1988, and gave Senna and Prost a 1-2 finish in the F1 Driver’s Championship. The car won all but one of the 16 races that year, including 10 one-two finishes. The MP4/4’s dominance created a turning point in F1 history, with its reclined driving position still found in today’s racers.
1980 Lancia #31 Lancia Corse Beta Montecarlo Turbo
This Lancia is wild in both appearance and performance. This silhouette racer was piloted in its day by racing greats Walter Röhrl and Riccardo Patrese. The #31 proved its worth in Group 5 endurance racing with equal doses of forward-thinking design and illustrious driving. Group 5 regulations were lax at the time, requiring little more than the race car’s window material and size to match the original production model. The engine block and transmission case looked like production units, but this racer was a bespoke piece of turbocharged technology. The car had a tubular frame, a KKK turbo, extensive aero, and enough racing rubber to deliver nearly 400 horsepower to the tarmac.
2014 Maserati #35 M.Calamia Swiss Team MC Trofeo
The Maserati Trofeo series caters to Maserati owners and enthusiasts who want to compete on some of the most well-known race tracks in the world. Drivers can sign up for a single race, a subset of the season, or a full season. The Trofeo is a spec series for the latest sport coupe from Maserati. Suspension may be tuned, but otherwise the cars are equal, leaving the podium to the best driver and team. In 2014, Mauro Calamia of Switzerland locked up the championship before the final race in Abu Dhabi, which he won despite falling back as far as fifth place. Any Maserati is a thrill to experience, but this race-prepped, championship-winning car is a true treat to take to the track.
1977 Holden Torana A9X
Homologation specials—production vehicles available to the public—are a rare breed. Their race-bred features are available right out of the box, making homologated road cars both valuable and timeless. Australians have known the Torana through many iterations. Holden built the cars on its home turf and were rarely exported—endearing the Torana to Aussie enthusiasts. V8 Supercar fans flock to the Torana not only for its bulging lines and fat tires, but for a storied race history. Peter Brock drove Toranas to victory in Australian Touring Car, including wins at the Bathurst 1000, Australia’s “Great Race.” In 1979, Brock won the Bathurst 1000 by an astounding six laps, setting a lap record in the process.
1969 Datsun 2000 Roadster
The Datsun 2000 is one of the most affordable classic roadsters from the 1960s. Known as the Fairlady in the home market, this convertible matches up with the more expensive Triumphs, Fiats, MGs, and Alfa Romeos of the era. Just drop the top and start having fun, but for far less of an entry fee. By 1969, the car had reached its peak power of around 135 horsepower from the two-liter, single overhead cam, four-cylinder coupled with a five-speed transmission. It offers a thrilling max speed of 140 miles per hour. By 1970, the 2000 Roadster was replaced to make way for the first Datsun “Z” cars.
2014 Mazda #70 SpeedSource Lola B12/80
After winning nine races in the final year of the Grand-Am Series, Mazda entered two cars—the #70 and the #7—in the inaugural P2 class of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship. Following the winning formula for endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans over the last 10 years, Mazda went with diesel power and a true production-based engine. That 450-hp diesel is set inside a Lola B12/80 chassis. All together the #70 weighs less than a ton. As the last Japanese manufacturer to win Le Mans outright, Mazda set a high standard if it wants to match past performance. As a test bed for diesel technology, this prototype is well on its way to improving alternative ways to power Mazda vehicles.
2000 Plymouth Prowler
From time to time, manufacturers take a chance and develop something simply for the sake of innovation. The Plymouth Prowler is the perfect example. It was produced at a projected financial loss in an effort to revitalize the Plymouth brand. Although Chrysler eventually pulled the plug to focus on core brands, the Prowler is a standout in both style and design. Its appearance and sound make the Prowler a modern hot rod. It is sleek and, with its open-air and almost open-wheel design, the Prowler turns heads wherever it goes. A free-breathing 3.5-liter V6 delivering 250 horsepower is found under the hood. While far from its cousin the SRT Viper in performance, the Prowler doubles down on its looks, and is a favorite for Mopar fans.
Stay tuned to the eBay Motors blog, as we continue to feature news and information about these Forza Motorsport cars in the coming weeks and months.
