The BMW has rear-wheel drive, while the Audi can power all four wheels.
AWD cars offer great grip where front- or rear-wheel-drive cars fail. AWD comes with its own set of limitations, as do all good things. While the setup doesn’t impact one’s daily driving, it can affect how the car performs at the track. This is demonstrated in a Carwow video that features an exciting drag race between the Audi RS3 and AWD, which pits it against a rear-wheel drive BMW M3.
The Audi RS3 drives all four wheels using a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine producing 400 horsepower (298 kilowatts), and 368 pound feet (500 Newton-meters), respectively. The engine is paired with a seven speed dual-clutch gearbox that includes launch control and a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Although the BMW M3 has rear-wheel drive, it is also more powerful thanks to its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six engine. It produces 510 horsepower (380 kW) as well as 479 lbft (650 Nm) torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission features launch control. The Audi weighs in at 3,461 lbs (1.570 kg), while the BMW is 3,813 lbs (1.730 kg).
Although the BMW M3 is an obvious winner, the Audi’s AWD powertrain will close that gap. Each car has its pros and cons. This leveled the playing field. The race’s outcome hinges on the M3’s launch. In the two first standing starts, the M3 failed to launch properly. The M3 was able to catch the RS3 in both standing starts, barely trailing the hatchback.
The M3 shines in the third race. The sedan’s stellar launch kept it right on top of the RS3’s rear bumper. This allowed it to pass the hatch and win a solid victory. The sedan crossed the quarter-mile finish line at 11.8 seconds. The race took 12.0 seconds for the Audi. Rolling races are no different. The BMW easily placed the Audi behind it. This is even after the BMW took a handicapped driver for one race.
The brake test is won by the BMW, beating the Audi and winning every contest. The performance of a car is not just about its horsepower. While the Audi could not beat the BMW in the brake test, it was able to keep up with the BMW and that is quite impressive considering its price.