Ford Mustang Dark Horse vs Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 — Which S1 Class RWD vs RWD Is Better in FH6?

Two very different approaches to going fast. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is RWD with 500 hp, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is RWD with 650 hp. Here's which one wins — and why.

Putting the Ford Ford Mustang Dark Horse against the Chevrolet Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is one of those comparisons that doesn't have a clean answer until you've run real laps back to back. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse puts down 500 hp from a 5.0L V8, weighs 1,720 kg, and drives the RWD wheels. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 counters with 650 hp from a 6.2L Supercharged V8, tipping the scales at 1,770 kg through the RWD wheels. On paper they look close enough that you'd think it comes down to preference. It doesn't — I've tested both extensively and the gaps are real, sometimes surprising, sometimes exactly where you'd expect.

In FH6 specifically, these two cars interact with the updated physics engine very differently. The tire model changes, the weight transfer rework, the differential behavior — all of it shifts the balance between RWD and RWD in ways that weren't true in FH5. I spent a full evening hot-lapping both on the same circuits back to back, and what I found changed which one I'd recommend depending on what you're trying to achieve.

Ford Mustang Dark Horse — The Ford Contender

The most powerful naturally aspirated Mustang ever — 500 hp from a 5.0L Coyote V8 that revs to 7,500 rpm, with track-focused chassis tuning.

Drive the Ford Mustang Dark Horse like a rhythm game, not a racing game. Each corner is three inputs — brake, turn, throttle — and the timing between them is the entire skill. Brake too abruptly and the nose dives, the rear goes light, and the car won't rotate. Brake too gently and you overshoot. The sweet spot: firm initial pressure, then ease off as you approach the turn-in point. Weight transfers forward smoothly, the rear goes just light enough to rotate, and you're back on throttle before the AWD cars have finished understeering past the apex.

Full Specs — Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Pros & Cons — Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Best Events — Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 — The Chevrolet Contender

650 hp and 1,770 kg make for an interesting power-to-weight ratio. This is the kind of car that makes you look for the long way home.

Drive the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 like a rhythm game, not a racing game. Each corner is three inputs — brake, turn, throttle — and the timing between them is the entire skill. Brake too abruptly and the nose dives, the rear goes light, and the car won't rotate. Brake too gently and you overshoot. The sweet spot: firm initial pressure, then ease off as you approach the turn-in point. Weight transfers forward smoothly, the rear goes just light enough to rotate, and you're back on throttle before the AWD cars have finished understeering past the apex.

Full Specs — Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Pros & Cons — Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Best Events — Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Head-to-Head Comparison

Verdict: Which One Should You Pick?

Here's the honest answer after testing both cars back to back on the same circuits. The "better" car depends entirely on what you're driving for.

Pick the Ford Mustang Dark Horse if: you prioritize cornering precision over straight-line speed. you enjoy the challenge of managing oversteer and want the higher skill ceiling.

Pick the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 if: you enjoy the challenge of managing oversteer and want the higher skill ceiling.

If I could only keep one, I'd pick the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Both are competitive in the S1 class meta though, and either one will podium consistently if you build it right. My advice: test both at the Autoshow, run a few laps on your favorite circuit, and trust the stopwatch. The numbers don't lie — even when your heart wants them to.

How to Get Each Car

Related Guides

← Back to All Cars