Over 0–100 km/h, S5 Sedan wins (4,50 s vs 7,44 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | S5 Sedan | 420i F32 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 4.50 s | 7.44 s | 2.94 s · S5 Sedan |
| 400 m standing start | 12.80 s | 15.38 s | 2.58 s · S5 Sedan |
| 1,000 m standing start | 23.39 s | 28.23 s | 4.84 s · S5 Sedan |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 250 km/h | 238 km/h | 12 km/h · S5 Sedan |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 5.31 kg/hp | 8.29 kg/hp | better ratio · S5 Sedan |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | S5 Sedan | 420i F32 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.11 s | 1.42 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 1.85 s | 2.53 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 3.22 s | 5.09 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.50 s | 7.44 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 6.11 s | 10.39 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 10.43 s | 19.05 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 16.98 s | 35.17 s |
| 400 m standing start | 12.80 s | 15.38 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 23.39 s | 28.23 s |
| Top speed limited | 250 km/h | 238 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 | 367 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 550 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 950 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Integrale (AWD) | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 184 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 300 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 525 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | Eight-speed Steptronic transmission |
Off the line, the S5 Sedan hits 100 km/h in 4.50 s versus 7.44 s for the 420i. At this point, the S5 Sedan leads by 2.94 s and sits roughly 18 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the S5 Sedan is doing 142 km/h against 117 km/h for the 420i. The gap is 1.63 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the S5 Sedan crosses the line in 12.80 s versus 15.38 s. The 2.58 s gap represents roughly 100 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.
Past 400 metres, the S5 Sedan continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 198 km/h versus 163 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S5 Sedan finishes in 23.38 s versus 28.23 s, with a 4.85 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 238 km/h), preventing any comeback.
Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S5 Sedan is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 420i at 240 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.
With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.31 kg/hp vs 8.29 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.15 seconds. The 2.94 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Over 0–100 km/h, S5 Sedan wins (4,50 s vs 7,44 s).
S5 Sedan goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,50 seconds (calibrated simulation).
S5 Sedan: 367 hp, ratio 5,31 kg/hp. 420i F32: 184 hp, ratio 8,29 kg/hp.
S5 Sedan: 250 km/h. 420i F32: 238 km/h.