Few things are as straightforward as pitting two very fast cars against each other in a drag race. This time, we are in Germany where Daniel Abt has arranged for an Audi RS6 Avant modified by ABT to go up against a Ferrari 812 Superfast. Needless to say, the two cars are very different, so it should be an interesting race.

Ferrari 812 Superfast

This is, currently, the latest front-engine V-12 Ferrari model on sale. Its high-revving, 6.5-liter, naturally-aspirated V-12 packs 800 horsepower at 8,500 RPM and 530 pound-feet (718 Nm) at 7,000 RPM. All that goes to the rear wheels only through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. At 3,362 pounds (1,525 kg), the 812 Superfast is relatively lightweight and is capable of sprinting to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 2.8 seconds, on to a top speed of 213 mph (342 km/h).

Audi RS6 Avant ABT

The Audi RS6 Avant is pretty quick, out of the box. In stock form, its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 packs 600 horsepower at 6,000 to 6,250 RPM and 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) at 2,500 to 4,500 RPM. However, tuning firm ABT has given it extra oomph so it now makes 800 horsepower and 723 pound-feet (980 Nm). The Audi is a whole lot of car compared to the Ferrari and features mild-hybrid technology. All that results in a curb weight of 4,740 pounds (2,150 kg).

In stock form, the RS6 Avant does the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.4 seconds, but ABT’s upgrades could give the Ferrari a run for its money. The Audi also comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and Quattro all-wheel drive.

The Drag race

All races were from a standing start and the first one was a classic, quarter-mile run. As expected, the Ferrari 812 Superfast experienced significant wheelspin while the Audi RS6 Avant ABT rocketed ahead thanks to its Quattro all-wheel drive. By the end of the race, the 812 was reeling the Audi in, but 1,320 feet just wasn’t long enough.

In the end, despite cold tires, Audi manages a 10.87-second quarter-mile time at 129.1 mph (207.75 km/h) and 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.08 seconds. The Ferrari manages 11.08 seconds at 134.33 mph (216.18 km/h) and a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.61 seconds. The 100 to 200 km/h (62-124 km/h) times reveal that, once the Ferrari hooked up, it was gaining quickly, with a 100 to 200 km/h time of 6.01 seconds versus 6.91 seconds for the Audi.

The half-mile race bore different results. This time, the Ferrari won in all disciplines. This includes the quarter-mile, which the 812 passed in 10.75 seconds versus the RS6’s 10.97 seconds. In terms of 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) times, the Audi was slightly quicker with 3.18 seconds versus 3.18 for the Ferrari. However, the 100 to 200 km/h (62-124 mph) was a different story – 5.81 seconds for the 812 Superfast and 7.12 seconds for the RS6 Avant ABT.

The Ferrari also completed the half-mile in 16.59 seconds at 165.29 mph (266 km/h) versus Audi’s 17.17 seconds at 155.86 mph (250.84 km/h). The second half-mile race was, pretty much, a repetition of the first. Audi had a slightly better 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) time, but the Ferrari still managed to catch it by the end of the quarter-mile. The half-mile was decisively won by the Ferrari, which crossed the line in 16.57 seconds at 165.56 mph (266.44 km/h) versus Audi’s 17.15 seconds at 156.08 mph (251.19 km/h).

There was a rolling race too, performed just for the fun of it, but it only confirmed the results from the half-mile races. The Audi's all-wheel-drive advantage was negated from a 60-ish km/h rolling start and the Ferrari pulled a bus length on the Audi, despite some initial wheelspin.

Conclusion

While all-wheel drive makes the Audi much easier to launch, the Ferrari is much lighter and has more revs to play with, despite lacking Audi’s low-end torque. The 812 Superfast is much more dramatic, as expected from a V-12 Italian exotic, but the Audi is still one of the fastest family cars you can get. It also proved a capable opponent, despite the extra weight and an identical horsepower figure.