Well-respected automotive journalist Chris Harris has confidently said that the BMW M3 Touring is a far superior driver’s car to the Audi RS4 Avant. But, if an M3 Touring owner was to come across an RS4 at the drag strip, would they also have the quicker car?
On paper, the BMW M3 Touring would seem to have the upper hand. Whereas the Audi rocks a twin-turbocharged V6 that is good for 444 hp and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, the M3 Touring uses the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder of the M3 Competition sedan that pumps out 503 hp and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm).
Both cars send their power through all four wheels but the M3 Touring is special as it can be driven in rear-wheel drive-only mode, unlike the Audi.
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In the first race between the duo held by Carwow, Mat Watson behind the wheel of the Audi got the better launch off the line and initially opened up a small lead over the BMW. However, as the speeds started to build, the M3 Touring began to pull away and won quite comfortably. In the second race, the driver of the BMW pulled away better off the line and won by an even larger margin, leaving the RS4 Avant in its dust. Even after the BMW was loaded with three passengers in a separate race, it also won.
A rolling race was also performed from 50 mph (80 km/h) over the half-mile with the transmissions left in their standard shifting mode. Once again, the M3 Touring proved too powerful for the RS4 Avant and secured the win.