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Written by Ollie Marriage
Mercedes-AMG A45 versus Audi RS3. Now there"s a head-to-head we want to conduct. But we haven"t yet. Instead, I wanted to show you just how evenly matched the two are and how deeply fast each is as well. Yes, I know the A45 is all shiny and new and has 20bhp more than the Audi, so before we go any further let"s have a look at why that doesn"t automatically give it a speed advantage. It has 369lb ft of torque, which, from a 1991cc swept volume is remarkable (read the first drive for all the engine facts). From an extra cylinder and 489cc the RS3 only" manages 354lb ft. But it"s on tap at 1,700rpm, and at that point in the rev range the A45 is only delivering a little over 200lb ft. Of course you"re never at 1,700rpm when you"re launching, but the fact remains that the Audi purposefully delivers its torque low down and then sustains it pretty much to the red line. The A45 equally purposefully - doesn"t. Instead AMG designed the power curve so that torque didn"t peak until 5,000rpm, meaning the acceleration is constantly building through the mid-range. Doesn"t help acceleration times, does improve the sensations you get in the car.
Date written: 2 Aug 2019
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 16485
Mercedes-AMG A45 versus Audi RS3. Now there"s a head-to-head we want to conduct. But we haven"t yet. Instead, I wanted to show you just how evenly matched the two are and how deeply fast each is as well. Yes, I know the A45 is all shiny and new and has 20bhp more than the Audi, so before we go any further let"s have a look at why that doesn"t automatically give it a speed advantage. It has 369lb ft of torque, which, from a 1991cc swept volume is remarkable (read the first drive for all the engine facts). From an extra cylinder and 489cc the RS3 only" manages 354lb ft. But it"s on tap at 1,700rpm, and at that point in the rev range the A45 is only delivering a little over 200lb ft. Of course you"re never at 1,700rpm when you"re launching, but the fact remains that the Audi purposefully delivers its torque low down and then sustains it pretty much to the red line. The A45 equally purposefully - doesn"t. Instead AMG designed the power curve so that torque didn"t peak until 5,000rpm, meaning the acceleration is constantly building through the mid-range. Doesn"t help acceleration times, does improve the sensations you get in the car.
Date written: 2 Aug 2019
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 16485