This quarter-mile acceleration race should give you a clear idea of how far performance cars have gone over the past years. It features a 2012 Audi RS 3 Sportback going up against the much newer S3 and a BMW M240i. All three cars have four driven wheels, but their cylinder count varies between four and six.
Specifically, the decade-old RS 3 makes use of a 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo rated at 340 PS (335 hp / 250 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque. A seven-speed auto transmission drives both axles.
In contrast, the 2022 S3 makes do with a two-liter four-pot turbo capable of 310 PS (306 hp / 228 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. The transmission is seven-speed dual-clutch. Finally, the M240i uses an inline six-cylinder unit with three liters of displacement and twin turbos to send 374 PS (369 hp / 275 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque to the wheels through an eight-speed A/T.
The comparison video includes two standing races, two rolling races from 80 km/h (50 mph), and a brake test in the end.
