BMW 740Le iPerformance G11 vs BMW 216d Steptronic Gran Tourer F44: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 740Le iPerformance hits 100 km/h in 5.58 s versus 11.67 s for the 216d Steptronic Gran Tourer. The instant torque of 400 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the 740Le iPerformance leads by 6.09 s and sits roughly 42 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 740Le iPerformance is doing 132 km/h against 102 km/h for the 216d Steptronic Gran Tourer. The gap is 3.18 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 740Le iPerformance crosses the line in 13.77 s versus 18.40 s. The 4.63 s gap represents roughly 152 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the 740Le iPerformance continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 186 km/h versus 142 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 740Le iPerformance finishes in 25.05 s versus 33.25 s, with a 8.21 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 740Le iPerformance is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 216d Steptronic Gran Tourer at 192 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.

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 19.48 seconds. The 6.09 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.