Over 0–100 km/h, RS 3 Sedan wins (3,85 s vs 7,13 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | RS 3 Sedan | 120d xDrive F40 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 3.85 s | 7.13 s | 3.28 s · RS 3 Sedan |
| 400 m standing start | 12.05 s | 15.21 s | 3.16 s · RS 3 Sedan |
| 1,000 m standing start | 21.96 s | 28.00 s | 6.04 s · RS 3 Sedan |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 250 km/h | 228 km/h | 22 km/h · RS 3 Sedan |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 3.91 kg/hp | 7.97 kg/hp | better ratio · RS 3 Sedan |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | RS 3 Sedan | 120d xDrive F40 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.03 s | 1.50 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 1.72 s | 2.54 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 2.82 s | 4.93 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.85 s | 7.13 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 5.04 s | 9.98 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 8.78 s | 18.51 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 13.65 s | 35.95 s |
| 400 m standing start | 12.05 s | 15.21 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 21.96 s | 28.00 s |
| Top speed limited | 250 km/h | 228 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 | 400 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 500 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 565 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Integrale (AWD) | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 190 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 515 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Integrale (AWD) | |
| Gearbox | 8-speed Steptronic transmission |
Off the line, the RS 3 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 3.85 s versus 7.13 s for the 120d xDrive. At this point, the RS 3 Sedan leads by 3.28 s and sits roughly 18 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the RS 3 Sedan is doing 151 km/h against 119 km/h for the 120d xDrive. The gap is 2.01 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 15.21 s. The 3.16 s gap represents roughly 123 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.
Past 400 metres, the RS 3 Sedan continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 212 km/h versus 164 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the RS 3 Sedan finishes in 21.96 s versus 27.99 s, with a 6.04 s lead.
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 120d xDrive at 230 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 7.97 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.69 seconds. The 3.28 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Over 0–100 km/h, RS 3 Sedan wins (3,85 s vs 7,13 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. 120d xDrive F40: 190 hp, ratio 7,97 kg/hp.
RS 3 Sedan: 250 km/h. 120d xDrive F40: 228 km/h.