Audi S3 v Audi RS4 drag race – video

Performance cars have come a long way – these days a four-cylinder hatchback can be just as fast as high-performance heroes of a few decades ago.

In this clip, Mat Watson from the UK's Carwow pits the current Audi S3 sedan against an older-generation 'B7' RS4 Avant to see how much progress the company has made in just 10 years.

Where the current S3 makes 228kW and 400Nm (Euro tune) from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, the 'B7' generation RS4 utilises an old-school 4.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 that made 309kW and 430Nm when new between 2005 and 2008.

Both send drive to the ground via all-wheel drive systems, though the S3 you see here has a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the RS4 gets a six-speed manual to do the same job.

Which is faster in a straight line? Check out the video below to find out:

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