BMW 520e G30 vs Peugeot 508 THP 160 EAT6: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 520e hits 100 km/h in 8.07 s versus 9.59 s for the 508 THP 160 EAT6. The instant torque of 350 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the 520e leads by 1.52 s and sits roughly 40 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 520e is doing 113 km/h against 115 km/h for the 508 THP 160 EAT6. The gap is 1.51 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the 520e crosses the line in 15.86 s versus 17.18 s. The 1.31 s gap represents roughly 52 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The 520e maxes out at 213 km/h while the 508 THP 160 EAT6 keeps accelerating towards 226 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 1.08 s from 1.31 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the 520e finishes in 29.49 s versus 30.11 s, with just 0.62 s to spare. The 508 THP 160 EAT6 fails to fully close the launch gap.

Electronically capped at 218 km/h, the 520e never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 14.22 seconds. The 1.52 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.