Santa's Gift Update

The Santa's Gift Update, also known as the 2015-2016 Winter Update, which should be also know as the Gameloft's "Gift" Update, is the v2.2.0 update of Asphalt 8: Airborne, which was released on December 16 2015 for iOS, December 18 for Android, December 21 for Windows, and January 8th 2016 for Amazon. This was followed by a further update to v.2.2.1 on January 5th 2016, for iOS which used the same description as this update.

Announcement
The following text was published on the Apple Store:


 * Santa’s got a sack full of new features for racing aficionados, including the very exclusive LAMBORGHINI EGOISTA, which will make its video game debut in Asphalt 8!


 * NEW LOCATION: Enter Area 51, this world’s most top-secret racing facility. Look out while flying; you’re not alone in the sky!
 * R&D series: Two speed machines will be revealed via R&amp;D! Stack up amazing & exclusive rewards, while test-driving those beasts to the max, to make them yours!
 * 15 NEW CARS: Alongside the Lamborghini Egoista, the Lamborghini Asterion, Renault Sport R.S. 01, Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34), & 11 other sports cars will be revealed. Look for each one, coming out over the next days & weeks!
 * NEW GAME MODE: Make the switch in the brand-new Tag Racing mode! Experience the thrill of racing with 3 different cars in 1 single race!
 * 3D TOUCH CONTROLS: Experience a new way to drive, exclusive to iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus!
 * HOLIDAY TRACKS: Feel a cold rush as you streak across 3 winter-themed tracks!

New Cars
The 2016 Winter Update adds 14 more cars in the game. The McLaren 570S from the Summer's Over Update is released in this version instead, bumping up the number of cars released to 15:

Class D
 * DS 3 Racing
 * Honda S2000

Class C
 * Range Rover Evoque Coupe HSE Dynamic
 * Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
 * Toyota Supra RZ (Mark IV)

Class B
 * Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)
 * Peugeot SR1 (R&amp;D)

Class A
 * Lamborghini Asterion
 * Mazzanti Evantra
 * McLaren 570S
 * Mosler GT3

Class S
 * Lamborghini Egoista (R&amp;D)
 * McLaren F1 XP-5
 * Renault Sport R.S. 01
 * Trion Nemesis

The new cars will need the following Engine Cards:
 * i4: DS 3 Racing (4), Honda S2000 (12), Range Rover Evoque (8)
 * V6: Renault Sport R.S. 01 (64)
 * V8: Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG (8), Mazzanti Evantra (8), Mosler GT3 (16)
 * Hybrid: Peugeot SR1 (8)
 * FI V8: Trion Nemesis (60)
 * V10: Lamborghini Asterion (8), Lamborghini Egoista (16)
 * V12: McLaren F1 XP-5 (52)
 * i6: Toyota Supra RZ (Mark IV) (32), Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) (4)

It was expected that the Peugeot SR1 was going to be the next car in Research & Development, however on Dec 18 at noon GMT the R&D for Lamborghini Egoista was released. The previous car in Research & Development was the Lamborghini Huracán.

Game Novelties
A new location has been added, baptized Area 51, with four tracks: As with other newly introduced locations, the tracks are not available for quick race, but can be raced on the iOS platform in the Exclusive Metal Events.
 * Test Site: Omega
 * Classified
 * The Secret Lab
 * Route 375-1

There is a new 'game mode' in this update called Tag Racing, where after a certain time in the race the car transforms into another car. There is a total of 3 cars that has to be chosen per race, within a specific class or group of cars, depending on the event. Like the Exclusive Metal Events, Tag Racing can be found alongside the Career seasons as Tag Season. It has its own achievement counter, blue stars, which need to be earned in order to get access to new levels in this season. Similar to the Car Mastery, Tag Racing introduces a new graphic language and color scheme.

Two new Collections were added, one for the McLaren cars (including the unreleased McLaren 570S and the newly released McLaren F1 XP-5), and one consisting of Retro cars. At the time of the release, the only way to see the McLaren 570S is in the McLaren collection.

The three "winter-themed tracks" are Tokyo, Iceland and Alps. Some of the obstacles on the tracks are replaced with gift boxes, and christmas decoration was added on the sides of the tracks.

Trivia

 * This marks the final update of the year 2015.
 * The McLaren 570S is to be released after the release of this update - similar to the Geely GC9 and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
 * Unlike with the previous update, there seems no reduction of the Free Upgrades or the Extra Tanks when finishing a challenge. Also there are no new rewards (Decals or cars) for Licences earned.
 * Most of the cars and artwork of the Career mode and the Car Mastery have been updated in order to look more crisp and appealing. The changes are in terms of perspective, color, and especially levels of detail of the rendering.
 * The update introduced two new loading screens: additionally to the existing McLaren P1 screen, there is one with the Koenigsegg One:1, and another one featuring the SSC Tuatara.