Over 0–100 km/h, 125i F20LCI wins (6,15 s vs 7,13 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.
| 125i F20LCI | 120d xDrive F40 | |
|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 6,15 s−0,98 s | 7,13 s |
| 400 m standing start | 14,36 s−0,85 s | 15,21 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 25,91 s−2,09 s | 28,00 s |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 243 km/h+15 km/h | 228 km/h |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 6,25 kg/hpbetter ratio | 7,97 kg/hp |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
Simulated performance at each stage. Winner in green.
| Palier | 125i F20LCI | 120d xDrive F40 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1,66 s | 1,50 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 2,77 s | 2,54 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 4,57 s | 4,93 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 6,15 s | 7,13 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 8,17 s | 9,98 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 13,86 s | 18,51 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 23,72 s | 35,95 s |
| 400 m standing start | 14,36 s | 15,21 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 25,91 s | 28,00 s |
| Top speed | 243 km/h | 228 km/h |
Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 224 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 310 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 400 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | 8-speed Steptronic |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 190 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 400 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 515 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Integrale (AWD) | |
| Gearbox | 8-speed Steptronic transmission |
Off the line, the Bmw 125i hits 100 km/h in 6.15 s versus 7.13 s for the Bmw 120d xDrive. The 0.98 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.
At 200 metres, the Bmw 125i is doing 131 km/h against 119 km/h for the Bmw 120d xDrive. The gap is 0.35 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw 125i crosses the line in 14.35 s versus 15.21 s. The 0.85 s gap represents roughly 34 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.
Past 400 metres, the Bmw 125i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 182 km/h versus 164 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Bmw 125i finishes in 25.91 s versus 27.99 s, with a 2.09 s lead.
Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Bmw 125i is capped at 243 km/h, the Bmw 120d xDrive at 230 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 (6.25 kg/hp vs 7.97 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.69 seconds. The 0.98 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, 125i F20LCI wins (6,15 s vs 7,13 s).
125i F20LCI goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,15 seconds (calibrated simulation).
125i F20LCI: 224 hp, ratio 6,25 kg/hp. 120d xDrive F40: 190 hp, ratio 7,97 kg/hp.
125i F20LCI: 243 km/h. 120d xDrive F40: 228 km/h.