Quick Take
S1 (801–900 PI) is one of the most-played classes in Forza Horizon online racing. With FH6 launching May 19, 2026, the FH5 S1 meta is the best predictor of what will dominate the launch lineup — the vast majority of FH5 cars carry forward. This page covers the best S1 (900) cars from creator tier lists and community rankings, broken out by use case.
Key Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Class PI range | 801–900 PI |
| Top road pick (FH5) | Ferrari FXX Evoluzione |
| Top AWD launch pick (FH5) | 2017 Acura NSX |
| Top overall (forum reviewed) | Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion |
| Top dirt pick (FH5) | Hot Wheels Bone Shaker |
| Top budget pick | Ford Focus RS |
| FH6 Premium Early Access | 2026-05-15 |
| FH6 carryover expected | unconfirmed as of May 2026 |
Best S1 Cars for Road Racing
Road races reward high top speed, stable AWD or planted RWD, and clean cornering.
| Rank | Car | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferrari FXX Evoluzione | Top ForzaFire road S1 pick; Legendary rarity, 36,100 CR parts |
| 2 | Ford Focus RS | Cheap AWD platform, 91,800 CR parts, Epic rarity |
| 3 | Jaguar Sport XJR-15 | Lightweight (~1,050 kg), 0-60 in 3.9s |
| 4 | Lotus Elise GT1 | Legendary class meta pick |
| 5 | Honda NSX-R GT | Epic, top handler |
| 6 | Ford GT (2005) | “A monster waiting to be unleashed on S1-Class Street races” |
ForzaFire’s road-racing top six is the cleanest data-driven list available pre-FH6. The 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is also called out as “the perfect all-rounder car for all your road activities in Forza Horizon 5.”
Best S1 Cars for Dirt and Cross-Country
Off-road S1 favors AWD launch, suspension travel, and weight distribution over peak top speed.
| Rank | Car | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Wheels Bone Shaker | Legendary, 80,600 CR parts |
| 2 | Koenigsegg CC8S | Epic |
| 3 | Jeep Trailcat | Rare, cheapest entry at 184,250 CR total |
| 4 | TVR Cerbera Speed 12 | Epic |
| 5 | Lotus Elise GT1 | Doubles up from road list |
| 6 | Lola #6 Penske Sunoco T70 MkIIIB | Epic |
For rally specifically, WhatIfGaming recommends the Hoonigan Ford RS200 Evolution: “Rally. Just drive it, and you’ll see why.”
Best AWD Launch S1 Cars
ForzaLabs’ ranking of S1 cars by raw launch score (all rated 10.0/10):
| Rank | Car | Power | Drivetrain | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017 Acura NSX | 573 HP | AWD | 170,000 CR |
| 2 | 2022 BMW M5 CS | 626 HP | AWD | 250,000 CR |
| 3 | 2018 Hot Wheels COPO Camaro | 1,100 HP | RWD | 205,000 CR |
| 4 | 1966 Fast & Furious Chevrolet Impala ‘Fast X’ | 1,100 HP | RWD | 300,000 CR |
| 5 | 2017 Ford #14 Rahal Letterman Fiesta | 608 HP | AWD | 300,000 CR |
The AWD trio (NSX, M5 CS, Fiesta RLL) are the safest picks for online S1 drag because they don’t punish a missed clutch.
Community Meta and Expert Reviews
From the official Forza forum’s long-running “S1 Car Reviews” thread:
- Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion — “This is the overall strongest of the cars reviewed so far.” The default tournament pick.
- Ford Focus 17 — “The Focus is genuinely one of the best S1 AWD cars in the game.”
- Ferrari Enzo — “A good second tier option and very smooth to drive.”
- KTM X-Bow GT4 — “With a top speed of only around 160 mph you don’t want to take this for a run on Goliath.”
Creator videos from late 2024 reinforce the Porsche GT1 / Ford Focus / Ferrari FXX trio at the top of overall S1 rankings.
What This Means for FH6 at Launch
Playground Games has confirmed returning hypercars plus new additions including the 2024 BMW M4 CSL and 2023 Ferrari 296 GTB.
Expected day-one S1 meta:
- Returning meta locks: Ferrari FXX Evoluzione, Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion, Ford Focus RS, Jaguar XJR-15, 2017 Acura NSX — all expected to remain S1 ceiling cars, though final FH6 PI tuning is unconfirmed as of May 2026.
- New launch contenders: 2024 BMW M4 CSL (described as “current pinnacle of M division engineering”) and 2023 Ferrari 296 GTB (“Ferrari’s hybrid future”) are the most likely new S1 ceiling cars.
- Game Pass note: Game Pass Ultimate / PC Game Pass include the Standard Edition from May 19. Premium Edition unlocks May 15.
Until FH6 PI numbers are public, the FH5 S1 meta is the strongest predictor of what will win the first weeks of FH6 online S1 lobbies.
FAQ
What is the best S1 car in Forza Horizon 5?
For mixed road racing, ForzaFire ranks the Ferrari FXX Evoluzione #1; the Forza forum review thread calls the Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion the overall strongest. For AWD launch events, the 2017 Acura NSX is #1.
What is the best cheap S1 car in FH5?
The Ford Focus RS — 91,800 CR parts cost, Epic rarity, and “genuinely one of the best S1 AWD cars in the game.”
Will the best FH5 S1 cars carry over to FH6?
Most modern FH5 cars are confirmed in the FH6 lineup, so the meta should carry over, but exact PI tuning per car is unconfirmed as of May 2026.
What is the best S1 dirt/cross-country car?
ForzaFire ranks the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker #1 for dirt racing in S1. The Hoonigan Ford RS200 Evolution is recommended for rally.
What PI range counts as S1 class?
S1 covers 801–900 PI. “S1 900” refers to a build tuned right at the 900 PI ceiling.
What is the best new S1 car confirmed for Forza Horizon 6?
Likely the 2024 BMW M4 CSL or 2023 Ferrari 296 GTB based on confirmed class placement. Final S1 rankings depend on PI tuning that is unconfirmed as of May 2026.