Over 0–100 km/h, S3 Sedan wins (4,63 s vs 5,68 s).
Performance comparison
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
Simulation
Calibration
Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.
| S3 Sedan | Focus ST 280 | |
|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 4,63 s−1,05 s | 5,68 s |
| 400 m standing start | 13,08 s−0,72 s | 13,80 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 23,69 s−0,95 s | 24,64 s |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 250 km/h | 264 km/h−14 km/h |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 4,61 kg/hpbetter ratio | 5,11 kg/hp |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
Simulated performance at each stage. Winner in green.
| Palier | S3 Sedan | Focus ST 280 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1,20 s | 1,66 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 2,00 s | 2,77 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 3,37 s | 4,37 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 4,63 s | 5,68 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 6,64 s | 7,28 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 10,96 s | 11,78 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 17,37 s | 19,05 s |
| 400 m standing start | 13,08 s | 13,80 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 23,69 s | 24,64 s |
| Top speed limited | 250 km/h | 264 km/h |
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 | 280 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 420 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 431 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed dual-clutch |
Off the line, the S3 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 4.63 s versus 5.68 s for the Focus ST 280. At this point, the S3 Sedan leads by 1.05 s and sits roughly 17 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the S3 Sedan is doing 138 km/h against 139 km/h for the Focus ST 280. The gap is 0.69 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the S3 Sedan crosses the line in 13.08 s versus 13.79 s. The 0.71 s gap represents roughly 34 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 194 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S3 Sedan finishes in 23.69 s versus 24.63 s, with a 0.95 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 264 km/h), preventing any comeback.
Electronically capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the S3 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 (4.61 kg/hp vs 5.11 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.27 seconds. The 1.05 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 5,68 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. Focus ST 280: 280 hp, ratio 5,11 kg/hp.
S3 Sedan: 250 km/h. Focus ST 280: 264 km/h.