The hottest model 3 and the hardcore M3 CS Trade blow on the net
<!–
–>
by Chris Chilton
January 31, 2025 at 20:37
–>
- Tesla Model 3’s performance of $ 55,000 take the BMW M3 CS of $ 120,000 in the last U-Drag Edmunds video.
- 510 HP Tesla enters the competition with less power and more weight than the BMW 543 HP, but has more torque.
- The M3 obtains the jump on model 3 out of the line, but it cannot prevent the Tesla from taking the checkered flag.
Electricity can be an excellent leveller, allowing brands with little or no performance pedigree to relax to those who have a hard -won reputation to make serious driver cars. But the M3 CS is not an ordinary high performance sedan. Surely, even the new performance of Tesla model 3 cannot take it … Isn’t it?
Edmunds’ test team has opposed the two four -door doors in one of its U U video confrontations. Which starts like a simple dragster race becomes more interesting of four tenths in the race when the pilots must climb on the middle pedal and turn each car to 180 degrees before bringing back to the starting line. This is the kind of complication that could cause problems for electric vehicles, which are often extremely fast in a straight line, and not so hot when you try to stop or direct because of their full weight.
Related: 2025 BMW M3 CS Touring makes the ultimate domain even better
That said, the 3 model is not much heavier than the M3 CS, the Tesla arriving at 4,051 pounds (1,838 kg) and the BMW at 3,890 lb (1,765 kg). The M3 makes the house at home by serving more power (543 hp / 550 PS VS 510 HP / 517 PS) and the two are in full traction, but the Tesla of 546 lb-pi (740 nm) the BMW at height of 67 lb-pi (91 nm).
Remove from the line, it is the M3 that digs the hardest. He is helped by his tight tires Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, but it is still a surprise because we are so conditioned to see EV videos obtaining the jump on ice cars, then yielding further on the track .
In this case, the Tesla holds its nerve, and although the BMW claws some time back under braking and turns, the M3 torque deficit means that model 3 is moving away on the return leg and wins Victory.
Edmunds acknowledges that this result seems a bit strange given that the CS had previously beaten a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which itself beat a model 3 performance in a U-Drag test. The presenters put this at the incredibly hot temperature of 101.2 degrees (38.4 C) on the day of the race, which, according to them, could have affected the M3 turbocharged even more than that did not affect the batteries of the model 3.
BMW fans can console themselves by knowing that it was a narrow race, but what is not close at a distance are the prices of these two cars. The performance of the 3 model costs $ 58,380 as tested, which makes it even cheaper than a BMW M340i XDRIVE of $ 6,200, the flagship CS product of $ 119,965 M3, which cost $ 132,695 in the SPEC Edmunds tested .
