Do not judge the motor by its horsepower output... If turbodiesels taught us anything is that low HP and high TQ performs great and delivers good fuel economy.

Look at Audi's 2.0T motor which makes 200HP. The current gen A4 weighs a hefty 3550 - 3600 lbs with Quattro. Previous gen A4 weighed 3450 lbs and produced 180HP. The difference is only 20 HP and 100 lbs, and seeing as B6 (previous gen) A4 took the quarter mile in 15.9 - 16.1 seconds, it is a world of improvement seeing the new B7 A4 take the quarter mile at 14.9 seconds, despite being 100 lbs heavier.

Direct injection plays a big part, but so does the torque curve of the engine. It delivers 100% of its torque from 1850 to 5500 RPM.

So while this BMW engine may deliver "just" 306 HP, I am placing my money that BMW 3 will outaccelerate IS350, significantly.

 

I have a FWD B7 2.0T A4 6MT and have a hard time seeing it as a 14.9 second car. I'll be running it at the track, but would be happy enough with something in the 15 second range.

BTW... the B6 was 170hp.

 

You're right, it is 170. 180 was in VW.

Check out March R&T. Quattro M6 A4 2.0T runs 15.0 @ 93.3 mph.

Their chart in the back lists A3 (which is FWD) going 14.9 @ 94.8 mph, and another A4 14.9 @ 94.2 mph.

 

I drove a manual A3, to me it felt fast. It's not saying much, since I currently own 2.8L A6 which has just two settings: slow and stop.

Anyways, I'm shopping for a newer (but not new) Audi (yes, I like those cars, so what, wanna fight about it?), either 4.2 A6 or 1.8 A4. 2002 can be had for really good prices, the ones coming off lease.