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  • SpecsS · A6

Mercedes S 580 e 4MATIC W223 vs Audi A6 Avant e-tron: 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.

limousine · 2024 vs 2026 · Methodology
MercedesPHEVFaster

S 580 e 4MATIC W223

510 hp · 750 Nm · 2,470 kg · 2024

VS
AudiBEV

A6 Avant e-tron

381 hp · 565 Nm · 2,381 kg · 2026

Result · 0–100 km/h

AMercedes S 580 e 4MATIC W223

4.87 s

Gap0.58 sin favour of S 580 e 4MATIC
BAudi A6 Avant e-tron

5.45 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureS 580 e 4MATIC W223A6 Avant e-tronGap
0–100 km/h4.87 s5.45 s0.58 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223
400 m standing start12.96 s13.77 s0.81 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223
1,000 m standing start23.11 s25.01 s1.90 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h210 km/h40 km/h · S 580 e 4MATIC W223
Power-to-weight ratio4.84 kg/hp6.25 kg/hpbetter ratio · S 580 e 4MATIC W223

Watch the race

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

MercedesPHEVS 580 e 4MATIC W223
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
AudiBEVA6 Avant e-tron
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.
StageS 580 e 4MATIC W223A6 Avant e-tron
0–30 km/h1.38 s · tight gap1.50 s
0–50 km/h2.17 s2.49 s
0–80 km/h3.58 s4.06 s
0–100 km/h4.87 s5.45 s
0–120 km/h6.33 s7.22 s
0–160 km/h10.27 s12.62 s
0–200 km/h15.71 s20.97 s
400 m standing start12.96 s13.77 s
1,000 m standing start23.11 s25.01 s
Top speed limited250 km/h210 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.

Mercedes

S 580 e 4MATIC W223

4,84kg/hpratio better by 1,41 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power510 hp6 cyl
Torque750 Nm
Weight2 470 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxUnknown
Audi

A6 Avant e-tron

6,25kg/hpcompensated by −89 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power381 hpPending
Torque565 Nm
Weight2 381 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxUnknown

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the S 580 e 4MATIC hits 100 km/h in 4.87 s versus 5.45 s for the A6 Avant e-tron. At this point, the S 580 e 4MATIC leads by 0.58 s and sits roughly 8 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC is doing 144 km/h against 136 km/h for the A6 Avant e-tron. The gap is 0.48 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S 580 e 4MATIC crosses the line in 12.95 s versus 13.77 s. The 0.82 s gap represents roughly 37 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 206 km/h versus 187 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC finishes in 23.10 s versus 25.00 s, with a 1.90 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

The S 580 e 4MATIC features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the A6 Avant e-tron’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S 580 e 4MATIC is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the A6 Avant e-tron at 210 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 (4.84 kg/hp vs 6.25 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Unknown).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.31 seconds. The 0.58 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, S 580 e 4MATIC W223 wins (4,87 s vs 5,45 s).

S 580 e 4MATIC W223 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,87 seconds (calibrated simulation).

S 580 e 4MATIC W223: 510 hp, ratio 4,84 kg/hp. A6 Avant e-tron: 381 hp, ratio 6,25 kg/hp.

S 580 e 4MATIC W223: 250 km/h. A6 Avant e-tron: 210 km/h.