All-wheel-drive cars have their advantages, such as improved traction, but it comes at the cost of added weight. It can be barely noticeable in everyday driving, but becomes a problem on the track, as Carwow proves with its latest video.
The drag strip run compares an Audi RS 3 against a BMW M3. The Audi packs AWD and utilizes a 2.5-liter turbo capable of 405 PS (399 hp / 297 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. A seven-speed DCT and launch control let it accelerate fast straight off the line.
In turn, the BMW is rear-wheel-drive only, but compensates for that with a more capable 3.0-liter inline-six turbo. The mill churns out 517 PS (510 hp / 380 kW) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque to an eight-speed automatic transmission. At 1,730 kilos, the BMW is also heavier than the Audi with its 1,570 kg (3,815 vs 3,461 lbs).
This makes the M3 the favorite on paper, but there is no ignoring the AWD advantage of the RS 3. Watch the video to see which one won and how badly the other one lost.