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400 HP Audi RS3 Drag Races 400 HP Jaguar I-Pace EV

A British drag race making a brand new British car lose against the Germans... now that's a first. However, the drag race between the Audi RS3 sedan and the Jaguar I-Pace is a very interesting one.
400 HP Audi RS3 Drag Races 400 HP Jaguar I-Pace EV 3 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
400 HP Audi RS3 Drag Races 400 HP Jaguar I-Pace EV400 HP Audi RS3 Drag Races 400 HP Jaguar I-Pace EV
Just the fact that one is a crossover and the other a sedan isn't cause for concern since AWD should even the playing field. The two models are also locked when it comes to power with 400 horsepower each, though the way they deliver that is very different.

The RS3 sedan features a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder, one of the best sounding engines money can buy. Normally, the single-speed gearbox on a Tesla would give it an advantage, but the S-tronic used by the Audi is amazing at launching whereas the I-Pace isn't.

Jaguar is the first company to launch a premium electric crossover in Europe while Audi is a few months away with its e-tron, and so is the Mercedes EQ C. Both of them will have 400 horsepower configurations, and we can't hope for a repeat of this race.

One comment on YouTube noted that "this is practically like racing a Lotus Elise and a Cadillac Escalade." But it's not. Sure, the I-Pace weighs over two tons, but the RS3 is no featherweight either at 1,515kg. What's more, the torque difference - 480 vs. around 700 Nm - should compensate for the bulk of the battery pack, and it's not like weight ever held Teslas back.

The drag race could have been much closer. The RS3 crossed the line in 12.2 seconds while the I-Pace managed 13.1 seconds. However, in a previous race against the Model S and X, it did the quarter mile in 12.8 seconds.

However, we take issue with Carwow's rolling race. Once again, the RS3 is in D mode, not S, so the gearbox is set for cruising and engaged in 7th gear, its last.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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