Vehicle database - S1 class
S1 sits right where AWD traction starts to matter and free unlock routes exist for players who do not want to spend credits yet. This shortlist compares six real cars on PI, drivetrain and how you actually get each one.
Verdict
If you only buy one S1 car, the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S is the safest purchase: its stock Speed and Launch stats lead the class, so it wins races before you touch a single slider. Once that is running, spend your credits elsewhere and grind toward the Lamborghini Revuelto and Nissan GT-R NISMO instead of buying them outright - both have a documented free unlock path.
Every car below is a real, named S1-class vehicle in the launch build, cross-checked against forza.net's car database and independent launch-week testing. PI figures are approximate stock values and will shift slightly with any aero or drivetrain part swap.
| Car | PI | Drivetrain | Unlock | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S | 758 S1 | AWD | Autoshow purchase | Road racing all-rounder |
| 2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO | 736 S1 | AWD | ~270,000 Cr Autoshow, or free via Touge/Street Rivals Collection Journal | Value pick / Touge |
| Lamborghini Revuelto | S1 hypercar | AWD | Free at Road Racing discipline milestone | Zero-cost hypercar |
| 2022 BMW M5 CS | 731 S1 | AWD | Autoshow purchase (budget tier) | Budget S1 with upgrade headroom |
| 2015 Ferrari 488 GTB | 770 S1 | RWD | Autoshow purchase | High-PI RWD road pick |
| 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS | 758 S1 | RWD | Autoshow purchase | Cornering-focused road racing |
2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S: Stock Speed rating of 7.8 and a perfect 10.0 Launch stat lead the S1 class, so it needs the least tuning work to be race-ready.
2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO: 600 hp and AWD traction make it the best value purchase in the class; the free Collection Journal route saves the credits entirely.
Lamborghini Revuelto: The only S1 hypercar earned purely through Road Racing discipline progression instead of credits, so push that discipline bar before buying an equivalent.
2022 BMW M5 CS: Cheapest AWD S1 Autoshow entry with strong upgrade potential once you start swapping the drivetrain and aero parts.
2015 Ferrari 488 GTB: Near the top of the class on stock PI; needs stability control on for new players until the tune settles the rear end.
2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS: Track-focused aero package rewards a corner-speed tune over a straight-line drag build.
Tuning steps
AWD S1 cars (GT-R NISMO, Revuelto, M5 CS) forgive a mistimed launch and a mid-corner throttle stab. RWD S1 cars (488 GTB, GT3 RS) post higher stock PI and reward a clean line, but a rushed tune will spin them out of races you should have won. If you are still learning S1, buy AWD first.
None of these six are built for dirt, cross-country or drift events. For those, see the off-road guide and the drift guide instead of trying to force an S1 road car onto loose surfaces. Ready to move up a tier, or need real slider values for these six? See the S2 class guide and the tuning guide.
Community testing puts the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S at the top of S1 road racing: a stock Speed rating of 7.8 and a perfect 10.0 Launch stat mean it needs the least tuning work to be competitive out of the Autoshow.
Yes. The Lamborghini Revuelto is awarded free once you push the Road Racing discipline far enough, and the 2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO can be earned by completing the Touge and Street Rivals branch of the Collection Journal instead of paying roughly 270,000 credits for it in the Autoshow.
AWD cars such as the GT-R NISMO, Revuelto and BMW M5 CS are more forgiving for new S1 players because the extra traction covers launch mistakes. RWD picks like the Ferrari 488 GTB and Porsche 911 GT3 RS post higher stock PI figures but punish throttle mistakes harder until you tune the diff and rear camber.
Keep building your garage
Compare every class, not just S1, in the full vehicle database. If Festival Playlist points are the goal, check the Series 2 reward schedule and the credits farming guide before buying an S1 car outright. Weekly S1 meta chatter gets tracked on the news board.