The soon-to-be-discontinued R8 is a completely different car from the M3, starting with its engine. A mid-mounted V10 of the free-breathing variety is far more exotic than a twin-turbocharged I6 located up front, although the S58 in the M3 Competition is torquier than the Plus version of the 5.2-liter TFSI.
Kamal Awsse of KaRace says that we're dealing with a difference of 110 ps (108 horsepower), which is one metric pony off the official ratings of 510 ps (503 horsepower) and 619 ps (610 horsepower). When it comes to peak torque, BMW says the M3 Competition develops 650 Nm (479 pound-feet) between 2,750 and 5,500 revolutions per minute.
The R8, which is going the way of the dodo as Lamborghini prepares to launch a plug-in hybrid twin-turbo V8 replacement for the Huracan, quotes out 560 Nm (413 pound-feet) at 6,500 revolutions per minute. Being a naturally aspirated engine, peak horsepower is produced at higher RPMs as well.
Be that as it may, the R8 V10 Plus has a few tricks up its sleeve, beginning with quattro all-wheel drive. As opposed to the viscous clutch-type quattro used in the first-gen R8, the second generation rocks an electro-hydraulically activated multi-plate clutch at the front axle. This quattro system also sports water cooling to keep things in check at the track.
Based on the M3 Competition's acceleration and quarter-mile times, the car in the clip attached below is rear-wheel drive rather than M xDrive. In combination with a torque-converter automatic rather than the dual-clutch transmission of the much lighter R8 V10 Plus, you can already guess which is the faster (and quicker) vehicle in a straight line.
Photo: KaRace on YouTube
In the first drag race, Kamal Awsee posts 12.8 seconds in the M3 Competition as opposed to 11.11 seconds for the driver of the R8 V10 Plus. The Audi proved even quicker in the second race, clocking 11.09 seconds compared to 11.6 for the Bimmer. In terms of quarter-mile speed, the numbers are 205 kph (127 mph) versus 199 kph (124 mph). As for the pull from naught to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour in old money), that'd be 3.51 and 3.65 seconds.
Even though the Audi's driver was caught by surprise at the start of the roll race (from 50 kph or 31 mph), the more aerodynamic R8 asserted dominance yet again. BMW, however, has the final laugh because the M3 is here to stay. The G80 will continue production through February 2027, and going forward, BMW could offer the next-gen M3 in two distinct flavors dubbed G84 and ZA0.
G84 is the internal codename for the internal combustion-engined model based on the G50 3 Series, whereas ZA0 is for the all-electric version derived from the NA0 i3. There is hearsay in regard to a zero-emission M3 Touring (codenamed ZA1), but alas, BMW hasn't confirmed anything so far.
Over at the Volkswagen Group, the Audi Sport division could be revived in the form of an electric supercar. The only platform that Audi could use for such a vehicle is the Sport version of the Scalable Systems Platform. The SSP Sport will also underpin a three-row SUV from Porsche (codenamed K1).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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