BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance G11 vs Porsche Boxster Manual: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 740Le xDrive iPerformance hits 100 km/h in 5.32 s versus 5.47 s for the Boxster Manual. The instant torque of 400 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the 740Le xDrive iPerformance leads by 0.15 s and sits roughly 7 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 740Le xDrive iPerformance is doing 134 km/h against 135 km/h for the Boxster Manual. The gap is 0.21 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the 740Le xDrive iPerformance crosses the line in 13.54 s versus 13.65 s. The 0.11 s gap represents roughly 5 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The 740Le xDrive iPerformance maxes out at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h while the Boxster Manual keeps accelerating towards 262 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.04 s.

Around 718 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the Boxster Manual overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 12 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the Boxster Manual finishes in 24.66 s versus 24.72 s. The 0.06 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

The 740Le xDrive iPerformance features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Boxster Manual’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 740Le xDrive iPerformance is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Boxster Manual at 262 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 8.46 seconds. The 0.15 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.