Over 0–100 km/h, 520d G30 wins (7,17 s vs 8,22 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | 520d G30 | A3 Sedan | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 7.17 s | 8.22 s | 1.05 s · 520d G30 |
| 400 m standing start | 15.20 s | 16.10 s | 0.90 s · 520d G30 |
| 1,000 m standing start | 28.10 s | 28.62 s | 0.52 s · 520d G30 |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 235 km/h | 240 km/h | 5 km/h · A3 Sedan |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 8.82 kg/hp | 8.60 kg/hp | better ratio · A3 Sedan |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | 520d G30 | A3 Sedan |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.25 s | 2.27 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 2.35 s | 3.78 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 4.82 s | 6.06 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.17 s | 8.22 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 10.23 s | 10.86 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 18.99 s | 18.59 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 35.92 s | 32.84 s |
| 400 m standing start | 15.20 s | 16.10 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 28.10 s | 28.62 s |
| Top speed | 235 km/h | 240 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 | 190 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 675 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Propulsion | |
| Gearbox | Eight-speed Steptronic transmission |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 150 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 250 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 290 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Traction | |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual gearbox |
Off the line, the 520d hits 100 km/h in 7.17 s versus 8.22 s for the A3 Sedan. At this point, the 520d leads by 1.05 s and sits roughly 28 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the 520d is doing 117 km/h against 119 km/h for the A3 Sedan. The gap is 1.02 s. The gap remains stable from the start.
At 400 metres standing start, the 520d crosses the line in 15.20 s versus 16.09 s. The 0.90 s gap represents roughly 37 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.
Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The 520d maxes out at 235 km/h while the A3 Sedan keeps accelerating towards 240 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.77 s from 0.90 s at 400 metres.
At 1,000 metres, the 520d finishes in 28.10 s versus 28.62 s, with just 0.52 s to spare. The A3 Sedan fails to fully close the launch gap.
Electronically capped at 235 km/h, the 520d 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 (8.82 kg/hp vs 8.60 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Manual).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.45 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, 520d G30 wins (7,17 s vs 8,22 s).
520d G30 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,17 seconds (calibrated simulation).
520d G30: 190 hp, ratio 8,82 kg/hp. A3 Sedan: 150 hp, ratio 8,60 kg/hp.
520d G30: 235 km/h. A3 Sedan: 240 km/h.