Audi S3 Takes on B7 RS4 in Epic 2.0L Turbo vs. 4.2L V8 Drag Race

The RS4 is probably the most iconic RS model, even though the RS6 has stolen the stoplight in recent years. As Mat Watson points, this particular model was the quickest Audi you could buy at the time.

Currently, the RS4 uses a 2.9-liter V6, but for a few years (and two generations), the model was defined by a unique, high-revving but quite small V8. The B7 version was launched in 2006 and ended its life just two years later with a total run or 10,000 units, which makes it about as rare as the most popular Lamborghini. The 4.2-liter also gives it that awesome connection to the base R8.

Audi factory numbers indicate that 1.7-ton wagon could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and reach 200 km/h in 16.9 seconds. Those were impressive numbers back then, but as we read them, we realized just how fast the S3 had become: 4.6 seconds.

This sedan version of the 8V makes 310 horsepower compared to the 420 of the RS4. Crucially, though, it's just 30 Nm down and delivers much more low-end torque. Plus, launch control can always be an unfair advantage.

But those are just numbers; what happens in the drag race is that the S3 flies off from the word go. After that, its S tronic auto stretches the lead further. The little sedan did the quarter mile in 13.5 seconds while the RS needed 14. Since it's such a cult car with a sweet soundtrack, we would let that slide. But the two Audis were tied in the rolling race, which is embarrassing when you consider that the B7 is not that old and has twice the engine size.