One of the things that makes Carwow’s videos interesting is how they compare cars in different ways. In this case, a power-to-weight comparison between the BMW M240i, AMG A45, Audi RS3, and Golf R. But the best part? Very entertaining to watch.
It started with the Volkswagen Golf R. Powered by an advertised 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 320 horsepower, it was equipped with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. The owner thought the car was making around 325 horsepower, which it turned out to be close to the nose. The highest of the three rounds on the dyno is 324.6 horsepower.
Next up is the BMW M240i. As one of the more powerful versions of the BMW 2 Series, the M240i is equipped with a 3.0-liter turbo that produces 347 horsepower. Like the Golf R, BMW owners find the 347 a bit underwhelming, in this case it should be closer to 400 horsepower. Again, the car produces more power than advertised, but at 375 horsepower, it fell far short of what its owners expected.
Moving on to the Audi RS3, we have a 400 horsepower 2.5 liter turbo five cylinder. According to the owners, it should produce around 410 to 415 horsepower. Like the Golf R, it has all-wheel drive and a seven-speed gearbox. Also, like Golf R owners, RS3 owners were right on the ball. The actual number comes out to be 413 horsepower.
Finally, it’s the turn of the Mercedes-AMG A 45. Its 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine puts out a factory-claimed 421 horsepower. Like all cars, it’s all-wheel drive with an automatic transmission, in this case with eight speeds. But unlike other owners, people who own this Mercedes think that the power it produces is slightly less. His guess was around 417. Turns out he was right to be pessimistic because the car only produces 386 horsepower.
So who won? In this competition, the challenge is not sheer strength but the strength-to-weight ratio. Each carriage is also weighed and Carwow calculates the ratio using recorded figures for the British tonne, which is 2,240 lbs. Using these calculations, the Audi RS3 comes first with 254 horsepower per tonne, followed by Mercedes-AMG, BMW and finally VW.
