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Ai3sBEVvsB118iPetrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • Specsi3s · 118i

BMW i3s I01 vs BMW 118i F40: 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.

compact · 2018 vs 2020 · Methodology
BMWBEVFaster

i3s I01

184 hp · 270 Nm · 1,290 kg · 2018

VS
BMWPetrol

118i F40

136 hp · 220 Nm · 1,290 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW i3s I01

6.81 s

Gap2.21 sin favour of i3s
BBMW 118i F40

9.02 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measurei3s I01118i F40Gap
0–100 km/h6.81 s9.02 s2.21 s · i3s I01
400 m standing start15.05 s16.74 s1.69 s · i3s I01
1,000 m standing start28.59 s30.00 s1.41 s · i3s I01
Top speed (electronically limited)160 km/h213 km/h53 km/h · 118i F40
Power-to-weight ratio7.01 kg/hp9.49 kg/hpbetter ratio · i3s I01

Watch the race

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

BMWBEVi3s I01
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol118i F40
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.
Stagei3s I01118i F40
0–30 km/h1.77 s2.37 s
0–50 km/h2.96 s3.96 s
0–80 km/h4.95 s6.57 s
0–100 km/h6.81 s9.02 s
0–120 km/h9.25 s12.17 s
0–160 km/h16.98 s21.99 s
0–200 km/h-45.39 s
400 m standing start15.05 s16.74 s
1,000 m standing start28.59 s30.00 s
Top speed160 km/h213 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

i3s I01

7,01kg/hpratio better by 2,47 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hpPending
Torque270 Nm
Weight1 290 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxAutomatic, single-speed with fixed ratio (9.665:1)
BMW

118i F40

9,49kg/hp0
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power136 hp3 cyl
Torque220 Nm
Weight1 290 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxSix-speed manual (seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the i3s hits 100 km/h in 6.81 s versus 9.02 s for the 118i. The instant torque of 270 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the i3s leads by 2.21 s and sits roughly 23 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the i3s is doing 124 km/h against 114 km/h for the 118i. The gap is 1.27 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the i3s crosses the line in 15.05 s versus 16.73 s. The 1.69 s gap represents roughly 65 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The i3s maxes out at 160 km/h while the 118i keeps accelerating towards 213 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 1.93 s from 1.69 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the i3s finishes in 28.59 s versus 30.00 s, with just 1.41 s to spare. The 118i fails to fully close the launch gap.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the i3s is capped at 160 km/h, the 118i at 213 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 14.11 seconds. The 2.21 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, i3s I01 wins (6,81 s vs 9,02 s).

i3s I01 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,81 seconds (calibrated simulation).

i3s I01: 184 hp, ratio 7,01 kg/hp. 118i F40: 136 hp, ratio 9,49 kg/hp.

i3s I01: 160 km/h. 118i F40: 213 km/h.