Over 0–100 km/h, S3 Sportback wins (4,64 s vs 5,68 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | S3 Sportback | Focus ST 280 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 4.64 s | 5.68 s | 1.04 s · S3 Sportback |
| 400 m standing start | 13.09 s | 13.80 s | 0.71 s · S3 Sportback |
| 1,000 m standing start | 23.72 s | 24.64 s | 0.92 s · S3 Sportback |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 250 km/h | 264 km/h | 14 km/h · Focus ST 280 |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 4.61 kg/hp | 5.11 kg/hp | better ratio · S3 Sportback |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | S3 Sportback | Focus ST 280 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.23 s | 1.66 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 2.05 s | 2.77 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 3.41 s | 4.37 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.64 s | 5.68 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 6.63 s | 7.28 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 10.91 s | 11.78 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 17.45 s | 19.05 s |
| 400 m standing start | 13.09 s | 13.80 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 23.72 s | 24.64 s |
| Top speed limited | 250 km/h | 264 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 | 280 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 420 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 431 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed dual-clutch |
Off the line, the S3 Sportback hits 100 km/h in 4.64 s versus 5.68 s for the Focus ST 280. At this point, the S3 Sportback leads by 1.04 s and sits roughly 16 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the S3 Sportback is doing 139 km/h against 139 km/h for the Focus ST 280. The gap is 0.68 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the S3 Sportback 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 Sportback continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 197 km/h versus 194 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S3 Sportback finishes in 23.72 s versus 24.63 s, with a 0.92 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 Sportback 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 1.04 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 Sportback wins (4,64 s vs 5,68 s).
S3 Sportback goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,64 seconds (calibrated simulation).
S3 Sportback: 333 hp, ratio 4,61 kg/hp. Focus ST 280: 280 hp, ratio 5,11 kg/hp.
S3 Sportback: 250 km/h. Focus ST 280: 264 km/h.