Players of the Forza Horizon 5 Xbox game will be able to drive one of the oddest creations from the ill-fated MG Rover era.
A new Series 4 update for the open-world racing game includes the addition of a 2005 MG XPower SV-R to virtual garages.
With fewer than 100 examples ever produced, the XPower SV-R will be a far more common sight on Forza’s virtual roads than real ones.
Virtually a collector’s item
Designed by Peter Stevens, and with a carbon fibre body, the XPower SV-R was intended to be a cut-price supercar. With 385hp from a Roush-tuned 5.0-litre Ford V8, it certainly delivered on performance. Top speed was 175mph.
Sadly, costing as much as established sports cars, notably the Porsche 911 GT3, left the MG hopelessly exposed in the marketplace. Forza Horizon 5 players can now see if it deserved greater success.
It is joined in the game by the modern MG3 supermini, best known for its low prices and respectable handling. However, the MG3 isn’t the most unlikely car added as part of the latest Forza update.
That honour goes to the 2013 Wuling Sunshine S. Made by SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, the diminutive microvan is one of the best-selling vehicles of all time in China.
Microvan-tastic voyage!
An 82hp engine is hardly likely to set pulses racing, so Forza players will undoubtedly be keen to upgrade and modify the Sunshine S.
The reason for the addition of the MG3, Wuling Sunshine S and also the NIO EP9 electric supercar is to celebrate the recent Lunar New Year.
As part of the Series 4 update, Microsoft has added full localised and simplified Chinese voiceovers to the game. This should improve the experience for players in China.
A new Horizon World Cup mode has also been added, with players rewarded for driving cars from their favourite country.
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