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ARS 3vsB4Petrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsRS 3 · 4

Audi RS 3 Sedan vs DS4 PureTech 225 EAT8: 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 2021 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

RS 3 Sedan

400 hp · 500 Nm · 1,565 kg · 2026

VS
DSPetrol

4 PureTech 225 EAT8

228 hp · 300 Nm · 1,480 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi RS 3 Sedan

3.85 s

Gap3.91 sin favour of RS 3 Sedan
BDS4 PureTech 225 EAT8

7.76 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureRS 3 Sedan4 PureTech 225 EAT8Gap
0–100 km/h3.85 s7.76 s3.91 s · RS 3 Sedan
400 m standing start12.05 s15.61 s3.56 s · RS 3 Sedan
1,000 m standing start21.96 s27.41 s5.45 s · RS 3 Sedan
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h245 km/h5 km/h · RS 3 Sedan
Power-to-weight ratio3.91 kg/hp6.49 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
DSPetrol4 PureTech 225 EAT8
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 Sedan4 PureTech 225 EAT8
0–30 km/h1.03 s2.26 s
0–50 km/h1.72 s3.79 s
0–80 km/h2.82 s5.98 s
0–100 km/h3.85 s7.76 s
0–120 km/h5.04 s9.81 s
0–160 km/h8.78 s15.84 s
0–200 km/h13.65 s26.53 s
400 m standing start12.05 s15.61 s
1,000 m standing start21.96 s27.41 s
Top speed limited250 km/h245 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 2,58 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power400 hpPending
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 565 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
DS

4 PureTech 225 EAT8

6,49kg/hpcompensated by −85 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power228 hpPending
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 480 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed automatic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the RS 3 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 3.85 s versus 7.76 s for the 4 PureTech 225 EAT8. At this point, the RS 3 Sedan leads by 3.91 s and sits roughly 31 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the RS 3 Sedan is doing 151 km/h against 126 km/h for the 4 PureTech 225 EAT8. The gap is 2.76 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 15.61 s. The 3.56 s gap represents roughly 147 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 27.41 s, with a 5.45 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 245 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the RS 3 Sedan 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 (3.91 kg/hp vs 6.49 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.04 seconds. The 3.91 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, RS 3 Sedan wins (3,85 s vs 7,76 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. 4 PureTech 225 EAT8: 228 hp, ratio 6,49 kg/hp.

RS 3 Sedan: 250 km/h. 4 PureTech 225 EAT8: 245 km/h.