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Home›Duel›Tesla Model vs Audi RS 3

Performance comparison

Tesla Model S Performance vs Audi RS 3 Sportback: 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.

TeslaBEVFaster

Model S Performance

778 hp · 1139 Nm · 2,250 kg · 2019

VS
AudiPetrol

RS 3 Sportback

400 hp · 500 Nm · 1,565 kg · 2026

MotorwayRange & chargingPerformance0-100, top speedConsumptionAnnual TCO

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.

Model S PerformanceRS 3 Sportback
0–100 km/h2,53 s−1,35 s3,88 s
400 m standing start10,32 s−1,76 s12,08 s
1,000 m standing start19,02 s−3,03 s22,05 s
Top speed (electronically limited)262 km/h+12 km/h250 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio2,89 kg/hpbetter ratio3,91 kg/hp

Watch the race

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

TeslaBEVModel S Performance
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiPetrolRS 3 Sportback
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. Winner in green.

PalierModel S PerformanceRS 3 Sportback
0–30 km/h0,71 s1,04 s
0–50 km/h1,18 s1,74 s
0–80 km/h1,91 s2,85 s
0–100 km/h2,53 s3,88 s
0–120 km/h3,31 s5,07 s
0–160 km/h5,58 s8,84 s
0–200 km/h8,76 s13,81 s
400 m standing start10,32 s12,08 s
1,000 m standing start19,02 s22,05 s
Top speed limited262 km/h250 km/h

Under the bonnet

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

Tesla

Model S Performance

2,89kg/hpratio better by 1,02 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power778 hpDual Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
Torque1139 Nm
Weight2 250 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxSingle-speed fixed gear
Audi

RS 3 Sportback

3,91kg/hpcompensated by −685 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power400 hpPending
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 565 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Model S Performance hits 100 km/h in 2.53 s versus 3.88 s for the RS 3 Sportback. The instant torque of 1,139 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Model S Performance leads by 1.35 s and sits roughly 12 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Model S Performance is doing 175 km/h against 150 km/h for the RS 3 Sportback. The gap is 1.20 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Model S Performance crosses the line in 10.31 s versus 12.08 s. The 1.77 s gap represents roughly 89 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Model S Performance continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 244 km/h versus 211 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Model S Performance finishes in 19.02 s versus 22.04 s, with a 3.02 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (262 vs 250 (i.e. 155 mph — industry threshold) km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Model S Performance is capped at 262 km/h, the RS 3 Sportback at 250 (i.e. 155 mph — industry threshold) 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.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 5.79 seconds. The 1.35 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 Model S Performance
Audi RS e-tron GTXiaomi SU7 Max AWDBMW i7 M70 xDrive
Instead of RS 3 Sportback
Bmw M140i xDriveBmw M140iBmw M135i xDrive

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540i xDrive vs Model S Performance

TeslaVSXiaomi

Model S Performance vs SU7 RWD Standard

BmwVSTesla

M240i vs Model S Performance

AudiVSBmw

RS 3 Sportback vs 620d Gran Turismo

Frequently asked questions

Sur 0–100 km/h, Model S Performance gagne (2,53 s vs 3,88 s).

Model S Performance passe de 0 à 100 km/h en 2,53 secondes (simulation calibrée).

Model S Performance : 778 hp, ratio 2,89 kg/hp. RS 3 Sportback : 400 hp, ratio 3,91 kg/hp.

Model S Performance : 262 km/h. RS 3 Sportback : 250 km/h.