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ARS 3PetrolvsB118dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsRS 3 · 118d

Audi RS 3 Sedan vs BMW 118d F40: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

compact · 2026 vs 2019 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

RS 3 Sedan

400 hp · 500 Nm · 1,565 kg · 2026

VS
BMWDiesel

118d F40

150 hp · 350 Nm · 1,400 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi RS 3 Sedan

3.85 s

Gap4.50 sin favour of RS 3 Sedan
BBMW 118d F40

8.35 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureRS 3 Sedan118d F40Gap
0–100 km/h3.85 s8.35 s4.50 s · RS 3 Sedan
400 m standing start12.05 s16.20 s4.15 s · RS 3 Sedan
1,000 m standing start21.96 s29.44 s7.48 s · RS 3 Sedan
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h218 km/h32 km/h · RS 3 Sedan
Power-to-weight ratio3.91 kg/hp9.33 kg/hpbetter ratio · RS 3 Sedan

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

AudiPetrolRS 3 Sedan
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel118d F40
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
StageRS 3 Sedan118d F40
0–30 km/h1.03 s2.02 s
0–50 km/h1.72 s3.31 s
0–80 km/h2.82 s5.89 s
0–100 km/h3.85 s8.35 s
0–120 km/h5.04 s11.53 s
0–160 km/h8.78 s21.37 s
0–200 km/h13.65 s43.65 s
400 m standing start12.05 s16.20 s
1,000 m standing start21.96 s29.44 s
Top speed limited250 km/h218 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

Audi

RS 3 Sedan

3,91kg/hpratio better by 5,42 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power400 hpPending
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 565 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

118d F40

9,33kg/hpcompensated by −165 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hpPending
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 400 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxSix-speed manual (eight-speed Steptronic transmission)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the RS 3 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 3.85 s versus 8.35 s for the 118d. At this point, the RS 3 Sedan leads by 4.50 s and sits roughly 27 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the RS 3 Sedan is doing 151 km/h against 115 km/h for the 118d. The gap is 2.80 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the RS 3 Sedan crosses the line in 12.04 s versus 16.20 s. The 4.15 s gap represents roughly 153 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the RS 3 Sedan continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 212 km/h versus 159 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the RS 3 Sedan finishes in 21.96 s versus 29.44 s, with a 7.48 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the RS 3 Sedan is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 118d at 218 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (3.91 kg/hp vs 9.33 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 13.49 seconds. The 4.50 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSAudi

M2 Competition vs RS 3 Sedan

BMWVSAudi

118d vs A3 Sedan

AudiVSBMW

RS 3 Sedan vs M240i Coupé

BMWVSAudi

118d vs A3 Sportback

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, RS 3 Sedan wins (3,85 s vs 8,35 s).

RS 3 Sedan goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3,85 seconds (calibrated simulation).

RS 3 Sedan: 400 hp, ratio 3,91 kg/hp. 118d F40: 150 hp, ratio 9,33 kg/hp.

RS 3 Sedan: 250 km/h. 118d F40: 218 km/h.