In a rather unusual comparison, the guys from CarWow decided to pit the 2019 Audi RS4 against the BMW M850i xDrive. The two don’t compete in the same segment and they definitely appeal to different demographics. However, the reason why this video was made was because both these cars have been Mat Watson’s long term test vehicles. Prior to getting an M850i xDrive model, Mat was driving an Audi RS4 so he was curious to see just how big the difference between them was in terms of speed.
The specs can offer a glimpse into that but, as you well know, real life results can differ quite a lot. Let’s have a look anyway, shall we? The Audi RS4 comes fitted with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine making 450 PS and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque. It also comes with an all-wheel drive system and an 8-speed automatic transmission, from the same manufacturer as BMW’s unit, ZF. However, each manufacturer tunes the gearbox to their preferred settings.
The BMW M850i xDrive on the other side of the drag strip has a different approach. While the RS4 is a practical car, the M850i is a GT. It uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 making 530 PS and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque. All of that is sent to all four corners of the car via xDrive and the 8-speed automatic ZF gearbox. The M850i is also heavier than the Audi by around 200+ kilos. That could prove decisive.
The two are closer than you might think, at least in the standing drag race. The rolling drag race shows why BMW’s 8-speed gearbox is also so highly praised, as it has one of the best calibrations on the market. Then comes the brake test, where the added weight of the 8 Series could work against it. Will that be the case? I won’t ruin the surprise for you, just watch the video.
