Over 0–100 km/h, 120d F40 wins (7,37 s vs 7,72 s).
Performance comparison
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
Simulation
Calibration
Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.
| A5 Sedan | 120d F40 | |
|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 7,72 s | 7,37 s+0,35 s |
| 400 m standing start | 15,71 s | 15,46 s+0,25 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 28,00 s−0,03 s | 28,03 s |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 247 km/h+17 km/h | 230 km/h |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 8,31 kg/hp | 7,63 kg/hpbetter ratio |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
Simulated performance at each stage. Winner in green.
| Palier | A5 Sedan | 120d F40 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 2,12 s | 1,93 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 3,54 s | 3,05 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 5,76 s | 5,30 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 7,72 s | 7,37 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 10,24 s | 10,04 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 17,44 s | 17,96 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 30,10 s | 33,74 s |
| 400 m standing start | 15,71 s | 15,46 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 28,00 s | 28,03 stight gap |
| Top speed | 247 km/h | 230 km/h |
Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 204 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 340 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 695 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Traction | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 190 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 450 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Traction | |
| Gearbox | 8-speed Steptronic transmission |
Off the line, the Bmw 120d hits 100 km/h in 7.37 s versus 7.72 s for the A5 Sedan. At this point, the Bmw 120d leads by 0.35 s and sits roughly 9 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the Bmw 120d is doing 121 km/h against 122 km/h for the A5 Sedan. The gap is 0.32 s. The gap remains stable from the start.
At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw 120d crosses the line in 15.45 s versus 15.71 s. The 0.26 s gap represents roughly 11 m of track - two to three car lengths.
Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The Bmw 120d maxes out at 230 km/h while the A5 Sedan keeps accelerating towards 247 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.17 s.
Around 946 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the A5 Sedan overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 17 km/h higher top speed.
At 1,000 metres, the A5 Sedan finishes in 27.99 s versus 28.02 s. The 0.03 s delta shows an extremely tight race.
Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the A5 Sedan is capped at 248 km/h, the Bmw 120d at 231 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.
With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (8.31 kg/hp vs 7.63 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.72 seconds. The 0.35 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Over 0–100 km/h, 120d F40 wins (7,37 s vs 7,72 s).
A5 Sedan goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,72 seconds (calibrated simulation).
A5 Sedan: 204 hp, ratio 8,31 kg/hp. 120d F40: 190 hp, ratio 7,63 kg/hp.
A5 Sedan: 247 km/h. 120d F40: 230 km/h.