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A120ivsB218iPetrol
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  • Specs120i · 218i

BMW 120i F40 vs BMW 218i Active Tourer F44: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

compact · 2021 vs 2020 · Methodology
BMWPetrolFaster

120i F40

178 hp · 280 Nm · 1,390 kg · 2021

VS
BMWPetrol

218i Active Tourer F44

136 hp · 220 Nm · 1,370 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 120i F40

6.91 s

Gap2.45 sin favour of 120i
BBMW 218i Active Tourer F44

9.36 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure120i F40218i Active Tourer F44Gap
0–100 km/h6.91 s9.36 s2.45 s · 120i F40
400 m standing start15.02 s16.90 s1.88 s · 120i F40
1,000 m standing start27.09 s30.73 s3.64 s · 120i F40
Top speed (electronically limited)235 km/h205 km/h30 km/h · 120i F40
Power-to-weight ratio7.81 kg/hp10.07 kg/hpbetter ratio · 120i F40

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

BMWPetrol120i F40
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol218i Active Tourer F44
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
Stage120i F40218i Active Tourer F44
0–30 km/h1.76 s2.17 s
0–50 km/h2.94 s3.62 s
0–80 km/h4.96 s6.58 s
0–100 km/h6.91 s9.36 s
0–120 km/h9.21 s13.00 s
0–160 km/h16.06 s24.95 s
0–200 km/h27.89 s66.97 s
400 m standing start15.02 s16.90 s
1,000 m standing start27.09 s30.73 s
Top speed235 km/h205 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

BMW

120i F40

7,81kg/hpratio better by 2,26 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power178 hp4 cyl
Torque280 Nm
Weight1 390 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
GearboxSeven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission
BMW

218i Active Tourer F44

10,07kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power136 hp3 cyl
Torque220 Nm
Weight1 370 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (7-speed Steptronic with double clutch)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 120i hits 100 km/h in 6.91 s versus 9.36 s for the 218i Active Tourer. At this point, the 120i leads by 2.45 s and sits roughly 20 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 120i is doing 124 km/h against 110 km/h for the 218i Active Tourer. The gap is 1.21 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 120i crosses the line in 15.02 s versus 16.89 s. The 1.88 s gap represents roughly 69 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 120i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 174 km/h versus 152 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 120i finishes in 27.09 s versus 30.73 s, with a 3.64 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 120i is capped at 235 km/h, the 218i Active Tourer at 205 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 (7.81 kg/hp vs 10.07 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 15.28 seconds. The 2.45 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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V 300 d 4MATIC vs 218i Active Tourer

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 120i F40 wins (6,91 s vs 9,36 s).

120i F40 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,91 seconds (calibrated simulation).

120i F40: 178 hp, ratio 7,81 kg/hp. 218i Active Tourer F44: 136 hp, ratio 10,07 kg/hp.

120i F40: 235 km/h. 218i Active Tourer F44: 205 km/h.