You can also see the power they make on the dyno.
What do three of Germany’s most powerful compact cars perform on a runway. Drag racing, naturally. Motor1.com was able to obtain an Audi RS3 and BMW M2 Competition. The Italian team also had a Mercedes AMG A45 S. It was natural to let them run over 400m (1,312ft or 0.2485 miles).
The A45 S is the best option with 416 horsepower (310kilowatts) & 500 Newton-meters (369 pounds-feet). It runs to both axles via a dual-clutch, eight-speed gearbox. According to the factory it can reach speeds of 62 miles an hour (100 km per hour) in just 3.9 seconds.
The Audi RS3 is at the opposite end of the power spectrum. It has a 2.5-liter turbocharged five cylinder with 394 horsepower (294 kW), and 354 pound-feet (354 Newton-meters). The Four Rings had to cease production for a short time due to tweaks to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test procedure. The output is transferred from a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox to an all wheel-drive system. According to the automaker, it takes 4.1 seconds to reach 62 mph.
The BMW M2 Competition is the powerhouse with 404 horsepower (301 kW) & 406 lbft (551Nm). The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is used, but unlike the others, it’s rear-wheel-drive.
Motor1.com Italy also had the opportunity to test these models on a dyno, to determine where each engine produces peak power and torque.