Over 0–100 km/h, A6 Avant wins (7,00 s vs 7,79 s).
Performance comparison
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
Simulation
Calibration
Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.
| A6 Avant | A4 40 TDI | |
|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 7,00 s−0,79 s | 7,79 s |
| 400 m standing start | 15,02 s−0,75 s | 15,77 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 27,98 s−0,11 s | 28,09 s |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 238 km/h | 242 km/h−4 km/h |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 9,80 kg/hp | 8,29 kg/hpbetter ratio |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
Simulated performance at each stage. Winner in green.
| Palier | A6 Avant | A4 40 TDI |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1,08 s | 2,16 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 2,10 s | 3,61 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 4,60 s | 5,84 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 7,00 s | 7,79 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 10,04 s | 10,28 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 19,37 s | 17,57 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 34,70 s | 30,63 s |
| 400 m standing start | 15,02 s | 15,77 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 27,98 s | 28,09 stight gap |
| Top speed | 238 km/h | 242 km/h |
Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 204 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 2 000 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Integrale (AWD) | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 190 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 575 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Traction | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic |
Off the line, the A6 Avant hits 100 km/h in 7.00 s versus 7.79 s for the A4 40 TDI. At this point, the A6 Avant leads by 0.79 s and sits roughly 29 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the A6 Avant is doing 117 km/h against 122 km/h for the A4 40 TDI. The gap is 0.98 s. The gap widens compared to the 0-100.
At 400 metres standing start, the A6 Avant crosses the line in 15.02 s versus 15.77 s. The 0.75 s gap represents roughly 31 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.
Past 400 metres, the gap narrows.
At 1,000 metres, the A6 Avant finishes in 27.98 s versus 28.08 s, with just 0.10 s to spare. The A4 40 TDI fails to fully close the launch gap.
The A6 Avant features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the A4 40 TDI’s FWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.
Electronically capped at 238 km/h, the A6 Avant never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.
With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (9.80 kg/hp vs 8.29 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.76 seconds. The 0.79 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, A6 Avant wins (7,00 s vs 7,79 s).
A6 Avant goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,00 seconds (calibrated simulation).
A6 Avant: 204 hp, ratio 9,80 kg/hp. A4 40 TDI: 190 hp, ratio 8,29 kg/hp.
A6 Avant: 238 km/h. A4 40 TDI: 242 km/h.