Over 0–100 km/h, A4 40 TDI wins (7,79 s vs 8,22 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | A4 40 TDI | A3 Sedan | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 7.79 s | 8.22 s | 0.43 s · A4 40 TDI |
| 400 m standing start | 15.77 s | 16.10 s | 0.33 s · A4 40 TDI |
| 1,000 m standing start | 28.09 s | 28.62 s | 0.53 s · A4 40 TDI |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 242 km/h | 240 km/h | 2 km/h · A4 40 TDI |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 8.29 kg/hp | 8.60 kg/hp | better ratio · A4 40 TDI |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | A4 40 TDI | A3 Sedan |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 2.16 s · tight gap | 2.27 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 3.61 s | 3.78 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 5.84 s | 6.06 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.79 s | 8.22 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 10.28 s | 10.86 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 17.57 s | 18.59 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 30.63 s | 32.84 s |
| 400 m standing start | 15.77 s | 16.10 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 28.09 s | 28.62 s |
| Top speed | 242 km/h | 240 km/h |
Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.
Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 190 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 575 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Traction | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 150 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 250 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 290 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Traction | |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual gearbox |
Off the line, the A4 40 TDI hits 100 km/h in 7.79 s versus 8.22 s for the A3 Sedan. At this point, the A4 40 TDI leads by 0.43 s and sits roughly 4 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the A4 40 TDI is doing 122 km/h against 119 km/h for the A3 Sedan. The gap is 0.22 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the A4 40 TDI crosses the line in 15.77 s versus 16.09 s. The 0.32 s gap represents roughly 13 m of track - two to three car lengths.
Past 400 metres, the A4 40 TDI continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 171 km/h versus 168 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the A4 40 TDI finishes in 28.08 s versus 28.62 s, with a 0.53 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (242 vs 240 km/h), preventing any comeback.
With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (8.29 kg/hp vs 8.60 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Manual).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.45 seconds. The 0.43 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.
Over 0–100 km/h, A4 40 TDI wins (7,79 s vs 8,22 s).
A4 40 TDI goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,79 seconds (calibrated simulation).
A4 40 TDI: 190 hp, ratio 8,29 kg/hp. A3 Sedan: 150 hp, ratio 8,60 kg/hp.
A4 40 TDI: 242 km/h. A3 Sedan: 240 km/h.