Over 0–100 km/h, S3 Sedan wins (4,63 s vs 6,27 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | S3 Sedan | 128ti F40 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 4.63 s | 6.27 s | 1.64 s · S3 Sedan |
| 400 m standing start | 13.08 s | 14.44 s | 1.36 s · S3 Sedan |
| 1,000 m standing start | 23.69 s | 25.87 s | 2.18 s · S3 Sedan |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 250 km/h | 250 km/h | Same |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 4.61 kg/hp | 5.45 kg/hp | better ratio · S3 Sedan |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | S3 Sedan | 128ti F40 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.20 s | 1.81 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 2.00 s | 3.01 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 3.37 s | 4.76 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.63 s | 6.27 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 6.64 s | 8.20 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 10.96 s | 13.63 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 17.37 s | 22.97 s |
| 400 m standing start | 13.08 s | 14.44 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 23.69 s | 25.87 s |
| Top speed limited | 250 km/h | 250 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 | 333 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 420 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 535 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Integrale (AWD) | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 265 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 445 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | Eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission |
Off the line, the S3 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 4.63 s versus 6.27 s for the 128ti. At this point, the S3 Sedan leads by 1.64 s and sits roughly 21 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the S3 Sedan is doing 138 km/h against 132 km/h for the 128ti. The gap is 1.10 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the S3 Sedan crosses the line in 13.08 s versus 14.44 s. The 1.36 s gap represents roughly 61 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.
Past 400 metres, the S3 Sedan continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 198 km/h versus 184 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S3 Sedan finishes in 23.69 s versus 25.86 s, with a 2.18 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.
Both rivals share the same electronic speed cap: the S3 Sedan and the 128ti 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 (4.61 kg/hp vs 5.45 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 9.33 seconds. The 1.64 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.
Over 0–100 km/h, S3 Sedan wins (4,63 s vs 6,27 s).
S3 Sedan goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,63 seconds (calibrated simulation).
S3 Sedan: 333 hp, ratio 4,61 kg/hp. 128ti F40: 265 hp, ratio 5,45 kg/hp.
S3 Sedan: 250 km/h. 128ti F40: 250 km/h.