Drag race - Audi RS3 vs BMW M2, rolling race _ What's the fastest £50k compact car _ Autocar

The Ultimate Showdown: Audi RS3 vs BMW M2

As we stood at the starting line, ready to put these two incredible performance cars to the test, I couldn't help but wonder which one would emerge victorious. The Audi RS3, with its potent 5-cylinder turbo motor, seemed like a strong contender, while the BMW M2, with its rear-wheel drive layout and more powerful engine, looked like it had a few tricks up its sleeve.

"I think probably the one with four-wheel drive," I said to my friend, "well you suspect this will be quicker away from the line so we're also going to give them a rolling race and see if the M2 can claim back some." My friend chuckled in response, saying "oh yeah, from a standing start mate, I think probably the one with four-wheel drive well you suspect this will be quicker away from the line so we're also going to give them a rolling race and see if the M2 can claim back some." This setup would allow us to test both cars in their respective conditions, and get a better understanding of which one was truly faster.

As I looked at my car, the BMW M2, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. The display on the dashboard showed that it was two and a half degrees outside, and with temperatures this cold, we weren't expecting to record any quick times today. But despite these conditions, I still had faith in my car's abilities. "I fancy my chances a bit in a rolling stop," I said confidently.

Now, let's talk about the Audi RS3. With its impressive 400 horsepower from that lovely warbling 5-cylinder turbo motor, it was no surprise that this car was in with a good shout for being the fastest sub $50,000 performance car. However, Daniel E had an advantage because he was one of the few owners of this car with four-wheel drive. I, on the other hand, only had rear-wheel drive, which made me feel a bit more nervous about our chances.

As we waited at the starting line, my friend couldn't resist taking the opportunity to poke fun at me. "You know he's got that whole thing with the transverse engine at the front predominantly front-wheel drive sending how to look back when it needs it," he said, chuckling. Meanwhile, Daniel E was enjoying the chilly conditions, which meant our timing gear wouldn't be able to record any quick times today.

In contrast, the Audi RS3 had a much more advanced transmission system - DCT transmission here to the rear wheels only, with ultimate driving machine launch control in gearbox, sport traction control in sport mode as well. "Left on the brake floor the throttle with your right foot and then step off the brake and the thing just pings off the line Lord control," my friend exclaimed.

As we prepared to start the race, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. My car was still warming up, and I knew that Daniel E had the advantage of his four-wheel drive system. But despite these conditions, I was determined to put on a good show. "I've got it off it's just off but then pull back on the lever to put me in that for the brake hard everything's gotta be up to temperature Lord ctrl Keys active so that's fine here we go," I said confidently.

And with that, we were off! The Audi RS3 took an early lead, accelerating away from the line with ease. But as we hit the halfway point, my friend couldn't help but notice something peculiar. "that the M2 was still getting away rather quickly inevitably the rs3 got away from the line quicker just put all its power down beautifully," he said.

But despite this initial advantage, Daniel E's car seemed to be struggling a bit more as we continued on our journey. "it's not get away anymore and there we are half mile now it was inevitable wasn't there that the rs3 would launch away from the line quicker than the rear-wheel drive and two it should be fast it's full with Drive it's got more power it's got a great engine that car to be fair but what I notice in my rearview mirror was that the m2 was a spec but you know what it wasn't getting smaller which makes me wonder if we're to do this race again but from a rolling start rather than a standing start what will the outcome be okay."

As we approached the end of our journey, my friend couldn't help but reflect on how much closer this race had been than he thought. "so after that disadvantage of the launch launch we're going to do a rolling start in second gear try and ease it up so that when when we hit the line then we'll be flat and the aisle deep," I said.

The Audi RS3 had taken an early lead, but as we entered our final stretch, my friend noticed something peculiar. "that the M2 was still managing to keep pace with the rs3 despite having less power it's a testament to how well designed these cars are." Despite this, Daniel E's car seemed to be struggling a bit more as we approached the end of our journey.

As we crossed the finish line, it became clear that the Audi RS3 had emerged victorious. But despite this result, my friend couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for both cars. The BMW M2 had given it a good fight, and its performance was truly impressive.

In the end, while the Audi RS3 took home the win, it was clear that both cars had been put through their paces in this ultimate showdown. And as we stood there, grinning from ear to ear, it was clear that this was a battle for the ages.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- very fast small German performance cars ow d rs3 BMW m2 Matt which one do you think is faster oh yeah from a standing start mate I think probably the one with four-wheel drive well you suspect this will be quicker away from the line so we're also going to give them a rolling race and see if the m2 can claim back some probably I fancy my chances a bit in a rolling stop ok well let's find out so what's the fastest sub 50,000 pound performance car I reckon this Audi rs3 is in with a good shout it's got just under 400 horsepower from that lovely warbling 5-cylinder turbo motor that's a load of power in quite a small car Daniel E has an advantage because he's got four-wheel drive I only have rear-wheel drive and the display on the dashboard says that it is two and a half degrees outside it's properly cold out there today that means we're not going to be recording quick times today so we're not going to bother with the timing gear tires are not getting warm the track is stone-cold that puts the initial start in his favour as does the fact he has a bit more poke I think but you know he's got that whole thing with the transverse engine at the front predominantly front-wheel drive sending how to look back when it needs it whereas this has got the classically beautiful straight six driving through DCT transmission here to the rear wheels only this is thus ultimate driving machine launch control in gearbox in sport traction control in sport mode as well left on the brake floor the throttle with your right foot and then step off the brake and the thing just pings off the line Lord control I've got to be in DSC off drive or DSC sport drive I've got it off it's just off but then pull back on the lever to put me in that for the brake hard everything's gotta be up to temperature Lord ctrl Keys active so that's fine here we go then let's find out which with these two cars is quicker so holds three and a half thousand rpm and away you go and not even a hint of wheelspin that thing gets away rather quickly that's just completely one-sided isn't there still getting away rather quickly inevitably the rs3 got away from the line quicker just put all its power down beautifully still it's not get away anymore and there we are half mile now it was inevitable wasn't there that the rs3 would launch away from the line quicker than the rear-wheel drive and two it should be fast it's full with Drive it's got more power it's got a great engine that car to be fair but what I notice in my rearview mirror was that the m2 was a spec but you know what it wasn't getting smaller which makes me wonder if we're to do this race again but from a rolling start rather than a standing start what will the outcome be okay so after that disadvantage of the launch launch we're going to do a rolling start in second gear try and ease it up so that when when we hit the line then we'll be flat and the aisle deep it's still got it hasn't there it's still just about gone edge but you know you're it's a lot lot closer quite a lot of it it's just out the fact that the Audi is really fast that out he is really fast that BMW it's not as Tiny as it was when we did the proper launch so there we go this was a tiny bit closer not close enough fact is the rs3 is just faster there is more to life though it's more to life than drag racism well nobody's surprised are they that they are s31 the drag races no I wasn't bit surprised about how far you got away a particularly a first sort of tenth of a second and then B as we've got further down he's didn't keep keep pulling and keep pulling that she surprised me a bit how far down the road it wasn't the launch control system on this car is very impressive it's effortless it just pings the car off the line every time yeah yeah it's monstrously quick yeah I mean I suspect when a corner arrives I might be having more fun but there's no denying that that is yeah nice quick and that's a little bit closer in the rolling race a little bit but even as it went on it's still just it's still slightly frustrating as you watch it you just you you're still eking out get them gap and gap when you think you know this this is the purest sports car how how was it possible to eat a stop look it doesn't really matter does it well there we go so small German under fifty thousand pound performance cars the rs3 is the quickest one\n"