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AM240ivsBS3Petrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsM240i · S3

BMW M240i F22 vs Audi S3 Sportback: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

compact · 2018 vs 2026 · Methodology
BMWPetrolFaster

M240i F22

340 hp · 500 Nm · 1,490 kg · 2018

VS
AudiPetrol

S3 Sportback

333 hp · 420 Nm · 1,535 kg · 2026

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW M240i F22

4.51 s

Gap0.13 sin favour of M240i
BAudi S3 Sportback

4.64 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureM240i F22S3 SportbackGap
0–100 km/h4.51 s4.64 s0.13 s · M240i F22
400 m standing start12.59 s13.09 s0.50 s · M240i F22
1,000 m standing start22.59 s23.72 s1.13 s · M240i F22
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h250 km/hSame
Power-to-weight ratio4.38 kg/hp4.61 kg/hpbetter ratio · M240i F22

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

BMWPetrolM240i F22
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiPetrolS3 Sportback
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
StageM240i F22S3 Sportback
0–30 km/h1.42 s1.23 s
0–50 km/h2.29 s2.05 s
0–80 km/h3.51 s3.41 s · tight gap
0–100 km/h4.51 s · tight gap4.64 s
0–120 km/h5.79 s6.63 s
0–160 km/h9.24 s10.91 s
0–200 km/h14.33 s17.45 s
400 m standing start12.59 s13.09 s
1,000 m standing start22.59 s23.72 s
Top speed limited250 km/h250 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

BMW

M240i F22

4,38kg/hpratio better by 0,23 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power340 hp6 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 490 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic
Audi

S3 Sportback

4,61kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power333 hpPending
Torque420 Nm
Weight1 535 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the M240i hits 100 km/h in 4.52 s versus 4.64 s for the S3 Sportback. Despite the faster sprint time, the S3 Sportback is 4 m further along the track at this moment: stronger low-speed acceleration offsets a slower run beyond 100 km/h.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the M240i is doing 151 km/h against 139 km/h for the S3 Sportback. The gap is 0.17 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the M240i crosses the line in 12.59 s versus 13.08 s. The 0.50 s gap represents roughly 24 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the M240i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 211 km/h versus 197 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the M240i finishes in 22.59 s versus 23.72 s, with a 1.13 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.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals share the same electronic speed cap: the M240i and the S3 Sportback 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 (4.38 kg/hp vs 4.61 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 7.65 seconds. The 0.13 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of M240i F22
BMW M240iBMW M240i xDrive
Instead of S3 Sportback
Audi S3 SedanAudi RS 3 SportbackAudi RS 3 Sedan

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSAudi

M240i vs S3 Sedan

BMWVSAudi

M140i vs S3 Sportback

AudiVSBMW

RS 3 Sedan vs M240i

BMWVSAudi

M140i xDrive vs S3 Sportback

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, M240i F22 wins (4,51 s vs 4,64 s).

M240i F22 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,51 seconds (calibrated simulation).

M240i F22: 340 hp, ratio 4,38 kg/hp. S3 Sportback: 333 hp, ratio 4,61 kg/hp.

M240i F22: 250 km/h. S3 Sportback: 250 km/h.