Over 0–100 km/h, 120i F20LCI wins (7,12 s vs 7,38 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | 120d F40 | 120i F20LCI | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 7.38 s | 7.12 s | 0.26 s · 120i F20LCI |
| 400 m standing start | 15.41 s | 15.22 s | 0.19 s · 120i F20LCI |
| 1,000 m standing start | 27.90 s | 27.53 s | 0.37 s · 120i F20LCI |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 231 km/h | 225 km/h | 6 km/h · 120d F40 |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 7.63 kg/hp | 7.47 kg/hp | better ratio · 120i F20LCI |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | 120d F40 | 120i F20LCI |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.87 s | 1.79 s · tight gap |
| 0–50 km/h | 3.04 s | 2.99 s · tight gap |
| 0–80 km/h | 5.29 s | 5.16 s · tight gap |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.38 s | 7.12 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 9.97 s | 9.70 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 17.66 s | 16.79 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 32.84 s | 29.61 s |
| 400 m standing start | 15.41 s | 15.22 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 27.90 s | 27.53 s |
| Top speed | 231 km/h | 225 km/h |
Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.
Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 190 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 450 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | 8-speed Steptronic transmission |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 184 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 270 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 375 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | 8-speed Steptronic |
Off the line, the 120i hits 100 km/h in 7.12 s versus 7.38 s for the 120d. At this point, the 120i leads by 0.26 s and sits roughly 2 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the 120i is doing 122 km/h against 121 km/h for the 120d. The gap is 0.14 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the 120i crosses the line in 15.22 s versus 15.41 s. The 0.19 s gap represents roughly 8 m of track - barely a car length.
Past 400 metres, the 120i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 170 km/h versus 168 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 120i finishes in 27.52 s versus 27.90 s, with a 0.37 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (231 vs 225 km/h), preventing any comeback.
Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 120d is capped at 231 km/h, the 120i at 225 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 (7.63 kg/hp vs 7.47 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.54 seconds. The 0.26 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.
Over 0–100 km/h, 120i F20LCI wins (7,12 s vs 7,38 s).
120d F40 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,38 seconds (calibrated simulation).
120d F40: 190 hp, ratio 7,63 kg/hp. 120i F20LCI: 184 hp, ratio 7,47 kg/hp.
120d F40: 231 km/h. 120i F20LCI: 225 km/h.