The 1957 Ford Thunderbird is a Forza Horizon 6 Car Pass car, not a Festival Playlist points reward. Playground Games announced it as available starting August 20, 2026. Its published stock specs are a 5.1-liter V8, 289 hp, 320 lb-ft, D 332 and rear-wheel drive.
How do you get the Ford Thunderbird in Forza Horizon 6?
Playground Games says the 1957 Ford Thunderbird is available through the Car Pass starting August 20, 2026. New Car Pass cars are delivered to the player’s garage as they become available, with no additional in-game credit cost.
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Whether Car Pass is already included in your access depends on your edition or subscription. Xbox lists the game for Xbox Series X|S and Windows 10/11, and describes Car Pass as included in Deluxe and Premium editions and available separately to some Standard Edition or Game Pass players. Check the Xbox listing for current availability and terms.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIs the Thunderbird a Festival Playlist reward or Car Pass car?
It is a Car Pass addition, not an announced Festival Playlist points reward. The Festival Playlist is a separate system: it unlocks after you earn your first Horizon Festival Wristband, which can happen during the first few hours of gameplay. Playlist rewards are earned by completing activities such as races, stunts and photo challenges. Those general reward mechanics do not change the Thunderbird’s announced Car Pass route.
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- DRIVE 550+ REAL‑WORLD CARS — Collect and customize over 550 licensed vehicles with body kits, Forza Aero, window liveries, and enhanced steering animations.
- BUILD YOUR ESTATE — Purchase beautiful homes across Japan and customize garages to showcase your growing car collection as you rise through the Horizon Festival.
- JOIN THE HORIZON COMMUNITY — Race, cruise, and compete with friends in Time Attack Circuits, Drag Meets, Car Meets, and Horizon multiplayer modes, including Spec Racing Championships.
On October 5, 2026, Playground Games announced that the next Festival Playlist rewards would begin October 8, but that update did not list the Thunderbird among them. The update announcement is useful for that schedule context; it does not establish the Thunderbird as a Playlist reward.
What are the 1957 Ford Thunderbird stats in FH6?
These are the stock in-game specifications published by Playground Games, not independent performance test results.
Rank #2
- PREMIUM EDITION — Includes the full game, VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack, Car Pass, Italian Passion Car Pack, and two Premium Expansions (coming post launch).
- DISCOVER JAPAN — Explore Horizon’s largest map ever, set in Japan and packed with dramatic verticality, diverse biomes, and spectacular open‑road driving routes.
- CRUISE ICONIC LOCATIONS — Drive through Tokyo’s city streets, suburbs, docks, and industrial districts in the most expansive urban environment in Horizon history.
- DRIVE 550+ REAL‑WORLD CARS — Collect and customize over 550 licensed vehicles with body kits, Forza Aero, window liveries, and enhanced steering animations.
- BUILD YOUR ESTATE — Purchase beautiful homes across Japan and customize garages to showcase your growing car collection as you rise through the Horizon Festival.
| Specification | Published value |
|---|---|
| Engine | 5.1-liter V8 |
| Power | 289 hp |
| Torque | 320 lb-ft |
| Stock class and PI | D 332 |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
Playground Games characterizes the car as a comfortable, stylish cruiser. The published figures do not establish how quickly it accelerates, how much grip it has, or how it compares on track with another car.
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How should you drive and tune the Thunderbird?
Approach it as a cruiser rather than assuming it is optimized for a particular race or class. Start with the stock setup and see how it feels on ordinary roads. Because it is rear-wheel drive, be measured with throttle when exiting corners; then adjust one tuning element at a time if you want a different feel. This is general player guidance, not a tested Thunderbird-specific tune.
Rank #3
- PREMIUM UPGRADE — Includes VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack, Car Pass, Italian Passion Car Pack, and two Premium Expansions. Requires Forza Horizon 6 base game or Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
- VIP MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS — Enjoy a 2x Credit boost to race rewards, 3 VIP-Exclusive Forza Edition cars, a weekly bonus Super Wheelspin, and special Vanity Items.
- WELCOME PACK — Features 5 special pre-tuned cars and a Car Voucher, which can be used to claim any car available from the Autoshow.
- TIME ATTACK CAR PACK — Receive 8 legendary cars ideal for mastering every turn and corner at the Time Attack Circuits located around Japan.
- ITALIAN PASSION CAR PACK — Introduces 4 great new Italian cars in Forza Horizon 6 post-launch, perfect for cruising, racing, or exploring.
Playground Games has not published a Thunderbird-specific tested tune, handling measurements or lap results. There are no substantiated tune values or competitive-class claims to rely on, so avoid treating a suggested setup as an official or proven configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Playground Games says about the car
In its 2026 Forza Horizon 6 Series 4 announcement, Playground Games wrote: “The Thunderbird was built with two objectives in mind: to provide drivers with great comfort and allow them to cruise in style.” That description fits the available evidence: the car’s published role is a stylish, comfortable drive, while the listed specs alone do not establish race performance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
- DELUXE EDITION — Includes the full game, Welcome Pack, and Car Pass, delivering 30 additional cars to your garage with one new car released each week.
- DISCOVER JAPAN — Explore Horizon’s largest map ever, set in Japan and packed with dramatic verticality, diverse biomes, and spectacular open‑road driving routes.
- CRUISE ICONIC LOCATIONS — Drive through Tokyo’s city streets, suburbs, docks, and industrial districts in the most expansive urban environment in Horizon history.
- DRIVE 550+ REAL‑WORLD CARS — Collect and customize over 550 licensed vehicles with body kits, Forza Aero, window liveries, and enhanced steering animations.
- BUILD YOUR ESTATE — Purchase beautiful homes across Japan and customize garages to showcase your growing car collection as you rise through the Horizon Festival.
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