GOLF R, AUDI RS3, A45 AMG AND BMW M240I REVEAL TRUE OEM POWER FIGURES IN DYNO DRAG RACE
There’s often debate about the power figures that automakers claim when they release the facts and figures for their performance cars. Oftentimes you’ll see a quoted power figure, and then see the independent media testing of the car’s results and the car is quicker than claimed. In many cases, we thought this could be down to the fact that the official figures are quoted slightly conservatively so that in public hands they should be able to match the claims, but whatever it is, there isn’t a prospective buyer out there that will complain that their car performs better than advertised. The question we’ve always had is this: do all automakers do this? Well, thanks to the folk at Carwow, we have an answer when it comes to Volkswagen, BMW, Audi and Mercedes-AMG by putting all the performance models on a dyno to see the truth.
For this test, which we hope becomes a full series of videos on Carwow, there are four popular hot hatch competitors used in the form of a Volkswagen Mk8 R, a BMW M240i, the Audi RS3 and the Mercedes-AMG A45. The VW runs a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-pot with a claimed 320 hp that’s sent though a 7-speed DSG transmission and all-wheel drive system. For the BMW things are bigger with a turbocharged 3.0-litre 6-cylinder that has a claimed 374 hp that’s also sent to all fours. The RS3 has that famed turbocharged 2.5-litre 5-cylinder lump that has a claimed 400 horses on tap and like the others, features a dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. Back down to 2.0-litres and 4 cylinders is the A45 AMG, and here all four wheels share the claimed 401 hp. For this test, the crew gave each car three power runs on an all-wheel dyno and then compared that to the OEM claims. Torque figures were also checked, and they even weighed the cars and discussed the results versus the OEM claims and how the actual weight and the actual power vary from claims.
Take a look at the YouTube video that was one of the more interesting ones when it comes to comparing cars, we always had a feeling these cars made different power to the figures quoted on the sales brochure: BMW M240i v AMG A45 v Audi RS3 v Golf R: DYNO DRAG RACE | carwow
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