2016 Mazda MX-5 Arrives in Forza Horizon 2 Before Real Life

Mazda and Microsoft have not only teamed up to bring the brand-new 2016 Mazda MX-5 to Forza Horizon 2 for free, the two companies are also giving you a chance to win an actual, real life version of the soon-to-be-released MX-5.

Forza Horizon 2 players on Xbox One can download the free Mazda MX-5 car pack now, and get access to the 2016 model, the 2010 MX-5 Super20 SEMA concept car, the 1990 MX-5 and the 2005 MAZDASPEED MX-5. Since the actual 2016 MX-5 won't be available for a few months, this is a cool way to "test drive" Mazda's latest from the comfort of your own couch. Plus, if you want a chance to win one of your own, you're going to need to download these free cars.

Between now and April 30, players can download the free MX-5 pack, register to enter through the Mazda MX-5 ad, and then jump into Forza Horizon 2 to try out the "Mazda MX-5 Challenge" Rivals event in-game on the Xbox One. Using the 2016 MX-5, hopefuls will have to earn one of the two fastest times on the Sisteron Perimeter Sprint Track to qualify for the finale. The two top racers will then meet for a head-to-head battle in Los Angeles in June to earn the coveted real version of the 2016 Mazda MX-5.

"Through history, there have been very few purer sportscars than the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and this fourth generation car is no exception," said Russell Wager, vice president of marketing, MNAO. "In the past, Miata was always a product of the analogue world, but this new 2016 model is the most sophisticated and digital yet, while still being a throwback to everything that made the original 1990 car so special. The new car is nearly as light, yet with a power-to-weight ratio exceeding that of its predecessor. While the physical car doesn't go on sale until later this summer, we're excited to give fans an opportunity to get behind the virtual wheel in Forza Horizon 2 to drive it before they can buy it."

Additionally, Mazda announced the winner of its Forza Horizon 2 Livery Design Contest at SXSW last week. The contest began back in December, and tasked players with crafting a unique livery for the 1994 Mazda MX-5 in-game. Once created, would-be designers had their liveries judged by a special panel of Mazda, Microsoft and Turn 10 representatives, with the top five moving on to a public vote. The top two vote-getters were then flown to South by Southwest, where they were independently judged by a new panel consisting of Derek Jenkins (Mazda's director of design), Major Nelson, and Forest Byrd (of TC9700Gaming).

Of the two designs, the judges deemed Jeff Reachard's the most impressive, and awarded him the $3,499.95 prize pack, which included a new 55-inch curved TV, music system, Xbox One, and MadCatz Racing Wheel. His livery was also made available to anyone with Forza Horizon 2 as an in-game download for free.