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ARS 3vsB230iPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsRS 3 · 230i

Audi RS 3 Sedan vs BMW 230i Convertible F22: 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 2018 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

RS 3 Sedan

400 hp · 500 Nm · 1,565 kg · 2026

VS
BMWPetrol

230i Convertible F22

252 hp · 350 Nm · 1,575 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi RS 3 Sedan

3.85 s

Gap2.01 sin favour of RS 3 Sedan
BBMW 230i Convertible F22

5.86 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureRS 3 Sedan230i Convertible F22Gap
0–100 km/h3.85 s5.86 s2.01 s · RS 3 Sedan
400 m standing start12.05 s14.21 s2.16 s · RS 3 Sedan
1,000 m standing start21.96 s26.01 s4.05 s · RS 3 Sedan
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h250 km/hSame
Power-to-weight ratio3.91 kg/hp6.25 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
BMWPetrol230i Convertible F22
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 Sedan230i Convertible F22
0–30 km/h1.03 s1.38 s
0–50 km/h1.72 s2.29 s
0–80 km/h2.82 s4.18 s
0–100 km/h3.85 s5.86 s
0–120 km/h5.04 s8.10 s
0–160 km/h8.78 s14.44 s
0–200 km/h13.65 s24.93 s
400 m standing start12.05 s14.21 s
1,000 m standing start21.96 s26.01 s
Top speed limited250 km/h250 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 2,34 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power400 hpPending
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 565 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

230i Convertible F22

6,25kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power252 hp4 cyl
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 575 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the RS 3 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 3.85 s versus 5.86 s for the 230i Convertible. At this point, the RS 3 Sedan leads by 2.01 s and sits roughly 15 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the RS 3 Sedan is doing 151 km/h against 129 km/h for the 230i Convertible. The gap is 1.40 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 14.21 s. The 2.17 s gap represents roughly 92 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 178 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the RS 3 Sedan finishes in 21.96 s versus 26.01 s, with a 4.05 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals share the same electronic speed cap: the RS 3 Sedan and the 230i Convertible are governed to 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h. At that speed, standard-fit tyres approach their safety threshold - an industrial ceiling common to most electric vehicles in this segment. Neither car shows its true aerodynamic potential in this duel.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (3.91 kg/hp vs 6.25 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 9.32 seconds. The 2.01 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of RS 3 Sedan
Audi S3 Sedan

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, RS 3 Sedan wins (3,85 s vs 5,86 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. 230i Convertible F22: 252 hp, ratio 6,25 kg/hp.

RS 3 Sedan: 250 km/h. 230i Convertible F22: 250 km/h.