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A740dvsB120dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs740d · 120d

BMW 740d xDrive G11 vs BMW 120d F20LCI: 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.

limousine · 2018 vs 2018 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

740d xDrive G11

320 hp · 680 Nm · 1,870 kg · 2018

VS
BMWDiesel

120d F20LCI

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,415 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 740d xDrive G11

5.16 s

Gap1.99 sin favour of 740d xDrive
BBMW 120d F20LCI

7.15 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure740d xDrive G11120d F20LCIGap
0–100 km/h5.16 s7.15 s1.99 s · 740d xDrive G11
400 m standing start13.47 s15.30 s1.83 s · 740d xDrive G11
1,000 m standing start24.53 s27.54 s3.01 s · 740d xDrive G11
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h228 km/h22 km/h · 740d xDrive G11
Power-to-weight ratio5.84 kg/hp7.45 kg/hpbetter ratio · 740d xDrive G11

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel740d xDrive G11
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel120d F20LCI
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.
Stage740d xDrive G11120d F20LCI
0–30 km/h1.27 s2.05 s
0–50 km/h2.11 s3.27 s
0–80 km/h3.70 s5.29 s
0–100 km/h5.16 s7.15 s
0–120 km/h7.01 s9.55 s
0–160 km/h12.07 s16.63 s
0–200 km/h19.82 s30.38 s
400 m standing start13.47 s15.30 s
1,000 m standing start24.53 s27.54 s
Top speed limited250 km/h228 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

740d xDrive G11

5,84kg/hpratio better by 1,60 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power320 hp6 cyl
Torque680 Nm
Weight1 870 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic
BMW

120d F20LCI

7,45kg/hpcompensated by −455 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 415 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual (8-speed Steptronic)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 740d xDrive hits 100 km/h in 5.16 s versus 7.15 s for the 120d. At this point, the 740d xDrive leads by 1.99 s and sits roughly 25 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 740d xDrive is doing 136 km/h against 124 km/h for the 120d. The gap is 1.39 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 740d xDrive crosses the line in 13.47 s versus 15.30 s. The 1.83 s gap represents roughly 76 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 740d xDrive continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 190 km/h versus 172 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 740d xDrive finishes in 24.53 s versus 27.53 s, with a 3.00 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 740d xDrive is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 120d at 228 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 (5.84 kg/hp vs 7.45 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 10.99 seconds. The 1.99 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 740d xDrive G11 wins (5,16 s vs 7,15 s).

740d xDrive G11 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,16 seconds (calibrated simulation).

740d xDrive G11: 320 hp, ratio 5,84 kg/hp. 120d F20LCI: 190 hp, ratio 7,45 kg/hp.

740d xDrive G11: 250 km/h. 120d F20LCI: 228 km/h.