
FORZA HORIZON 5 UNLOCK ALL CARS SECRET 2023
More than 800 vehicles are featured in Forza Horizon 5, including off-road monsters, vintage classics, and contemporary supercars. One of the main draws of the game is its wide variety of vehicles, which you can use whether you’re racing across the desert or cruising the streets of Guanajuato. But not every car is easily bought at the Autoshow. Some are concealed by exclusive rewards, seasonal events, Accolades, or Car Mastery Trees. Players were discussing how to unlock every car in 2023, and some were looking for “secrets” or shortcuts to get around the grind. In addition to highlighting hidden vehicles and dispelling common misconceptions about cheats and exploits, this guide will show you how to unlock cars legally.
FORZA HORIZON 5 NOT LAUNCHING
Understanding Car Unlocking Mechanics
Forza Horizon 5 offers several ways to acquire cars, each with its own challenges and rewards. Here’s a breakdown of the primary methods:
1. Autoshow Purchases
The Autoshow is the most straightforward way to acquire cars, allowing you to purchase vehicles with in-game credits (CR). Most cars in the game are available here, with prices ranging from a few thousand credits to millions for rare models like the 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 (50 million CR). To amass credits, focus on:
- Completing races, events, and championships.
- Selling duplicate cars at the Auction House.
- Earning credits through Wheelspins and Super Wheelspins.
Tip: Save credits by prioritizing cars that can’t be unlocked through other methods. Avoid spending on cars available via Accolades or Car Mastery Trees.
2. Car Mastery Trees
Certain cars in Forza Horizon 5 have Car Mastery Trees that allow you to unlock additional vehicles by spending Skill Points. These hidden cars are some of the most coveted in the game. As of 2023, there are five key vehicles with unlockable cars in their Mastery Trees:
- 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon → Unlocks 2013 DeBerti Wrangler Unlimited (50 Skill Points).
- 1969 Dodge Charger R/T → Unlocks 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona HEMI (66 Skill Points).
- 1990 Mazda Savanna RX-7 → Unlocks 1992 Hoonigan Mazda RX-7 Twerkstallion (50 Skill Points).
- 1995 Porsche 911 GT2 → Unlocks 1991 Hoonigan Porsche 911 Turbo RWB (50 Skill Points).
- 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV → Unlocks 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GTR (50 Skill Points).
How to Earn Skill Points:
- Perform skill chains by drifting, smashing objects, or performing jumps.
- Focus on Drift Zones or use a high-performance car like the 1965 Hoonigan Ford Mustang for efficient point farming.
- Activate Skill Songs for a temporary multiplier to boost your Skill Point earnings.
Pro Tip: The 1990 Mazda Savanna RX-7 is not available at the Autoshow. Obtain it via Wheelspins or by completing the “Three of a Kind” Accolade (finish the Super7 Tournament three times). Avoid buying it from the Auction House, as it may already have its Mastery Tree car unlocked, rendering it useless for this purpose.
3. Accolades
Accolades are in-game objectives that reward players with cars, credits, and other perks. Many cars can be unlocked for free by completing specific Accolades, saving you millions of credits. Some notable Accolade cars include:
- Nissan Fairlady Z: Destroy one Fast Travel Board.
- Ford Focus RS: Discover 10 roads.
- Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205: Complete one round of a Horizon Arcade Event.
- Dodge Charger R/T: Win the Goliath race.
- Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec: Complete the Guanajuato Expedition.
- Renault Megane R.S.: Unlock a car from another car’s Mastery Tree (Matryoshka Accolade).
To view and claim Accolade rewards, navigate to the Accolades menu. Some Accolades have prerequisites, so plan your progression to unlock them efficiently. Completing every Accolade is time-intensive but rewarding for collectors.
4. Barn Finds
Barn Finds are hidden vehicles scattered across the map, discovered through rumors unlocked during story progression. There are 14 Barn Finds in Forza Horizon 5, offering unique classics like the Ferrari 250 GTO, Porsche 911 Carrera RS, and Jaguar Sport XJR-15. To unlock them:
- Progress through the story until a festival organizer mentions a Barn Find rumor.
- Check the map for a purple circle with a house icon and a question mark.
- Drive to the location, find the barn, and wait for the car to be restored (or pay credits to expedite the process).
Note: Some Barn Finds, like the Jaguar Sport XJR-15, require completing specific expedition Accolades (e.g., Wilds Expedition). Use a Treasure Map (available for purchase) to reveal exact locations, but note that some barns remain locked until their respective Accolades are completed.
5. Wheelspins and Super Wheelspins
Wheelspins and Super Wheelspins are random reward systems that can grant cars, credits, or cosmetics. Some cars, like the 1990 Mazda Savanna RX-7, are exclusive to Wheelspins or specific Accolades. To maximize Wheelspin rewards:
- Unlock Super Wheelspins through Car Mastery Trees (e.g., 2015 Porsche Cayman GTS).
- Complete Festival Playlist activities to earn points for Wheelspins.
- Participate in seasonal events for a chance at exclusive cars.
Caution: Wheelspin-exclusive cars can also appear in the Forzathon Shop or Auction House, but availability is not guaranteed.
6. Festival Playlist and Seasonal Events
The Festival Playlist offers weekly and monthly challenges that reward cars, including rare and exclusive models. In 2023, seasonal events introduced cars like the 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto and 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato as part of the Horizon Realms update. To earn these:
- Complete seasonal championships, PR stunts, and multiplayer events.
- Check the Festival Playlist regularly for new rewards.
- Accumulate Forzathon Points to purchase cars from the Forzathon Shop.
Tip: Some cars are only available during specific seasons, so stay active in the game to avoid missing out.
7. Car Collection Rewards
Collecting all cars from a specific manufacturer unlocks bonus vehicles. These are some of the rarest cars in the game:
- Mercedes-Benz W154 (1939): Collect all 23 Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
- Ford GT40 Mk I (1964): Collect all 58 Ford vehicles.
- Ferrari LaFerrari (2013): Collect all 26 Ferrari vehicles.
- Lamborghini Reventon (2008): Collect all 16 Lamborghini vehicles.
These cars are expensive (e.g., the W154 costs 50 million CR at the Autoshow), making collection rewards a cost-effective way to acquire them. Focus on buying manufacturer cars from the Autoshow and supplementing with Accolade or Wheelspin rewards.
8. DLC and Car Packs
Downloadable content (DLC) packs, such as the Hot Wheels, Rally Adventure, and Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack, add exclusive cars. For example, the Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack (released with the Horizon Realms update in April 2025) includes:
- 1989 Nissan Pao
- 1991 Nissan Figaro
- 1989 Nissan S-Cargo
- 1987 Nissan Be-1
To add DLC cars to your garage, ensure the pack is installed via the Microsoft Store and “purchase” them for free at the Autoshow or a player house. Note that the garage limit is 2,000 cars, so sell duplicates to make space.
Debunking the “Unlock All Cars Secret” Myth
In 2023, some players searched for cheats or hacks to unlock all cars instantly, often referencing tools like Cheat Engine or glitches. While exploits like the money glitch or car collection glitch existed early in the game’s lifecycle, Playground Games has patched most of these to prevent abuse. Using third-party cheat tools, such as those mentioned in 2023 posts, carries significant risks:
- Bans: Incorrectly using cheats can result in a ban from online features or the entire game.
- Game Crashes: Tools like Cheat Engine or mods like Forza Mods AIO have been reported to cause crashes, especially if not compatible with the game’s version.
- Ethical Considerations: Cheating undermines the game’s progression system and can diminish the satisfaction of earning cars legitimately.
Instead of relying on risky cheats, focus on in-game methods like those outlined above. The sense of achievement from unlocking rare cars through skill and dedication is far more rewarding.
Tips for Efficient Car Unlocking
- Prioritize Skill Point Farming: Use Drift Zones or the airstrip in southern Mexico to rack up Skill Points quickly. Cars like the 1965 Hoonigan Ford Mustang are ideal for drifting.
- Plan Your Accolades: Focus on Accolades that reward cars early on to save credits for Autoshow purchases.
- Monitor the Auction House: Rare cars like the Mazda Savanna RX-7 can be expensive (1.5 million CR), but sniping deals can save you credits.
- Participate in Multiplayer: Horizon Arcade and co-op races offer rewards and Skill Points.
- Use the Treasure Map: This DLC reveals all collectibles, including Barn Finds and XP Boards, speeding up your progression.
- Check the Forzathon Shop: Rare cars occasionally appear for purchase with Forzathon Points.
Conclusion
In Forza Horizon 5, unlocking every car is an enormous undertaking that calls for a combination of skill, strategy, and perseverance. Although some players may have been tempted by the promise of a “secret” cheat in 2023, the game’s legal ways of constructing your ideal garage—Autoshow purchases, Car Mastery Trees, Accolades, Barn Finds, Wheelspins, Festival Playlists, and collection rewards—offer a rewarding route. Focussing on these strategies and staying away from dangerous cheats will allow you to collect every vehicle in Forza Horizon 5, including the rare Mercedes-Benz W154 and the legendary Lamborghini Reventon. Happy racing and keep discovering Mexico’s colourful world!
Check out sites like GameRant, IGN, and the official Forza website for the most recent information on vehicles and events, as well as additional guides for Forza Horizon 5.