BMW i5 eDrive40 Touring G60 vs Porsche Panamera 970.1: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Panamera hits 100 km/h in 5.83 s versus 6.12 s for the i5 eDrive40 Touring. Despite lacking instant torque, 304 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Panamera leads by 0.29 s and sits roughly 10 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Panamera is doing 130 km/h against 134 km/h for the i5 eDrive40 Touring. The gap is 0.27 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the Panamera crosses the line in 14.15 s versus 14.33 s. The 0.18 s gap represents roughly 8 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the Panamera continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 181 km/h versus 184 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Panamera finishes in 25.76 s versus 25.96 s, with a 0.20 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the i5 eDrive40 Touring is capped at 193 km/h, the Panamera at 257 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 9.21 seconds. The 0.29 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.