Over 0–100 km/h, i5 xDrive40 G60 and E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon W214 are neck and neck (5,30 s vs 5,30 s, no significant gap).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | i5 xDrive40 G60 | E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon W214 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 5.30 s | 5.30 s | 0.00 s · i5 xDrive40 G60 |
| 400 m standing start | 13.59 s | 13.57 s | 0.02 s · E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon W214 |
| 1,000 m standing start | 24.58 s | 24.58 s | Same |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 215 km/h | 250 km/h | 35 km/h · E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon W214 |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 5.79 kg/hp | 5.89 kg/hp | better ratio · i5 xDrive40 G60 |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | i5 xDrive40 G60 | E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon W214 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.43 s | 1.36 s · tight gap |
| 0–50 km/h | 2.39 s | 2.06 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 3.92 s | 3.74 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 5.30 s · tight gap | 5.30 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 7.04 s · tight gap | 7.13 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 12.04 s | 12.19 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 19.54 s · tight gap | 19.66 s |
| 400 m standing start | 13.59 s | 13.57 s · tight gap |
| 1,000 m standing start | 24.58 s | 24.58 s |
| Top speed limited | 215 km/h | 250 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 | 394 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 590 Nm | |
| Weight | 2 280 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Propulsion | |
| Gearbox | Automatic transmission, single-stage with fixed ratio |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 381 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 650 Nm | |
| Weight | 2 245 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Integrale (AWD) | |
| Gearbox | Unknown |
Off the line, the i5 xDrive40 hits 100 km/h in 5.30 s versus 5.31 s for the E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon. The 0.00 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.
At 200 metres, the E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon is doing 135 km/h against 137 km/h for the i5 xDrive40. The gap is 0.07 s. The gap widens compared to the 0-100.
At 400 metres standing start, the E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon crosses the line in 13.57 s versus 13.59 s. The 0.02 s gap represents roughly 1 m of track
Past 400 metres, the i5 xDrive40 continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 191 km/h versus 190 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the i5 xDrive40 finishes in 24.58 s versus 24.58 s, with a 0.00 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h), the E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon never recovers its launch deficit.
The E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the i5 xDrive40’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 i5 xDrive40 is capped at 215 km/h, the E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) 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.
With two plug-in hybrid powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.79 kg/hp vs 5.89 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Unknown).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.31 seconds. The 0.00 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Over 0–100 km/h, i5 xDrive40 G60 and E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon W214 are neck and neck (5,30 s vs 5,30 s, no significant gap).
i5 xDrive40 G60 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,30 seconds (calibrated simulation).
i5 xDrive40 G60: 394 hp, ratio 5,79 kg/hp. E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon W214: 381 hp, ratio 5,89 kg/hp.
i5 xDrive40 G60: 215 km/h. E 400 e 4MATIC Saloon W214: 250 km/h.