Over 0–100 km/h, i3 I01 wins (7,24 s vs 9,44 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | i3 I01 | 218i F22 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 7.24 s | 9.44 s | 2.20 s · i3 I01 |
| 400 m standing start | 15.40 s | 17.00 s | 1.60 s · i3 I01 |
| 1,000 m standing start | 29.80 s | 30.74 s | 0.94 s · i3 I01 |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 150 km/h | 205 km/h | 55 km/h · 218i F22 |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 7.47 kg/hp | 9.68 kg/hp | better ratio · i3 I01 |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | i3 I01 | 218i F22 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.88 s | 2.30 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 3.14 s | 3.85 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 5.25 s | 6.75 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.24 s | 9.44 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 9.85 s | 12.97 s |
| 0–160 km/h | - | 24.54 s |
| 0–200 km/h | - | 66.35 s |
| 400 m standing start | 15.40 s | 17.00 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 29.80 s | 30.74 s |
| Top speed | 150 km/h | 205 km/h |
Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.
Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 170 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 250 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 270 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Propulsion | |
| Gearbox | Automatic, single-speed with fixed ratio (9.665:1) |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 140 hp | 3 cyl |
| Torque | 220 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 355 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual (7-speed Steptronic with double clutch) |
Off the line, the i3 hits 100 km/h in 7.24 s versus 9.44 s for the 218i. The instant torque of 250 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the i3 leads by 2.20 s and sits roughly 20 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the i3 is doing 122 km/h against 111 km/h for the 218i. The gap is 1.10 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the i3 crosses the line in 15.40 s versus 16.99 s. The 1.59 s gap represents roughly 59 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.
Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The i3 maxes out at 150 km/h while the 218i keeps accelerating towards 205 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 1.74 s from 1.59 s at 400 metres.
At 1,000 metres, the i3 finishes in 29.80 s versus 30.73 s, with just 0.94 s to spare. The 218i fails to fully close the launch gap.
Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the i3 is capped at 150 km/h, the 218i at 205 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 15.17 seconds. The 2.20 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Over 0–100 km/h, i3 I01 wins (7,24 s vs 9,44 s).
i3 I01 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,24 seconds (calibrated simulation).
i3 I01: 170 hp, ratio 7,47 kg/hp. 218i F22: 140 hp, ratio 9,68 kg/hp.
i3 I01: 150 km/h. 218i F22: 205 km/h.