The latest Tesla Model 3 Performance challenger is from the German turf, the expensive and powerful Audi RS 6 AWD wagon. Both cars storm the dragstrip with full power and compete in 3 rounds of drag and rolling races each.
The last time we saw Tesla Model 3 drag racing an ICE car was against a giant 1100 hp Jeep Trackhawk. Now it’s Audi’s turn to face the sheer power of Tesla’s electric powertrain.
Besides running on dinosaur juice, the Audi RS 6 is almost double the price of a Tesla Model 3 Performance (the top-end variant) — so even if it wins in this drag race, it can’t win in terms of efficiency, cost savings, sound & CO2 pollution.
Let’s check out a brief performance specs comparison of both competing cars before jumping on to the drag race video.
| Tesla Model 3 Performance | Audi RS 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $54,990 | $109,995 |
| Battery Pack / Engine | ~74 kWh | Twin-turbocharged and intercooled V8 |
| Range | 315 miles (506 km) | N/A |
| Drivetrain | Dual-Motor All Wheel Drive (AWD) | Front Engine, Quattro (AWD) |
| Max. Power | 365 kW (490 hp) | 441 kW (591 hp) |
| Torque | 486 lb-ft | 590 lb-ft |
| Curb Weight | 1,847 kg (4,702 lb) | 2,282 (5,031 lb) |
| Acceleration (060 mph) | 3.1 secs | 3.1 secs |
| Top Speed | 162 mph (261 km/h) | 156 mph (251 km/h) |
| CO2 Emissions | Zero (Tesla Sustainability Report 2019) | 268 – 431.3 g/km |
| Full Self-Driving (optional) | Yes | What? |
| Track Mode | Default with free OTA updates | Launch Control |
Besides being larger, bulkier, and heavier, the RS 6 with its twin-turbocharged V8 engine is able to pull the same 0-60 mph time as the nimble Model 3 Performance. The Audi in this race is also superior in power, torque, and most of all CO2 emissions.
The purchase price of the Tesla Model 3 Performance in the UK is very high. In the United States, it costs $54,990 USD but in the UK, the same car is sold for £56,490 GBP which translates to around $75,000 USD, yikes!
Tesla Model 3 lost by a difference of 0.2s (11.8s vs 11.6s), which is significant in a quarter-mile drag race, but still, it managed to win one of three rounds. With a professional driver in the driver’s seat, the results might have been in favor of the Model 3 Performance.
Model 3 also won the last braking challenge over Audi RS 6 in this duel. There was a time when Consumer Reports dropped Tesla Model 3 from its recommendation list due to the braking distance. Tesla fixed it via a simple over-the-air (OTA) software update, this is the car of the 21st century and Audi is missing this element.
