Over 0–100 km/h, i3 I01 wins (7,24 s vs 7,54 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | Leon e-Hybrid | i3 I01 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 7.54 s | 7.24 s | 0.30 s · i3 I01 |
| 400 m standing start | 15.48 s | 15.40 s | 0.08 s · i3 I01 |
| 1,000 m standing start | 27.56 s | 29.80 s | 2.24 s · Leon e-Hybrid |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 225 km/h | 150 km/h | 75 km/h · Leon e-Hybrid |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 6.76 kg/hp | 7.47 kg/hp | better ratio · Leon e-Hybrid |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | Leon e-Hybrid | i3 I01 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 2.12 s | 1.88 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 3.54 s | 3.14 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 5.71 s | 5.25 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.54 s | 7.24 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 9.72 s · tight gap | 9.85 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 16.35 s | - |
| 0–200 km/h | 29.36 s | - |
| 400 m standing start | 15.48 s | 15.40 s · tight gap |
| 1,000 m standing start | 27.56 s | 29.80 s |
| Top speed | 225 km/h | 150 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 | 241 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 350 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 630 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Traction | |
| Gearbox | 6-speed DSG |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 170 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 250 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 270 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Propulsion | |
| Gearbox | Automatic, single-speed with fixed ratio (9.665:1) |
Off the line, the i3 hits 100 km/h in 7.24 s versus 7.54 s for the Leon e-Hybrid. At this point, the i3 leads by 0.30 s and sits roughly 9 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the i3 is doing 122 km/h against 125 km/h for the Leon e-Hybrid. The gap is 0.27 s. The gap remains stable from the start.
At 400 metres standing start, the i3 crosses the line in 15.40 s versus 15.48 s. The 0.08 s gap represents roughly 3 m of track - barely a car length.
Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The i3 maxes out at 150 km/h while the Leon e-Hybrid keeps accelerating towards 225 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.37 s.
Around 458 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the Leon e-Hybrid overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 75 km/h higher top speed.
At 1,000 metres, the Leon e-Hybrid finishes in 27.56 s versus 29.80 s. The 2.24 s delta in favour of the Leon e-Hybrid shows that top speed makes a clear difference.
Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Leon e-Hybrid is capped at 225 km/h, the i3 at 150 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 plug-in hybrid powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (6.76 kg/hp vs 7.47 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.47 seconds. The 0.30 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Over 0–100 km/h, i3 I01 wins (7,24 s vs 7,54 s).
Leon e-Hybrid goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,54 seconds (calibrated simulation).
Leon e-Hybrid: 241 hp, ratio 6,76 kg/hp. i3 I01: 170 hp, ratio 7,47 kg/hp.
Leon e-Hybrid: 225 km/h. i3 I01: 150 km/h.