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Home›Duel›BMW M140i vs Cupra Born

Performance comparison

BMW M140i xDrive F20LCI vs Cupra Born: 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.

BMWPetrolFaster

M140i xDrive F20LCI

340 hp · 500 Nm · 1,540 kg · 2018

VS
CupraBEV

Born

201 hp · 310 Nm · 1,710 kg · 2021

MotorwayRange & chargingPerformance0-100, top speedConsumptionAnnual TCO

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.

M140i xDrive F20LCIBorn
0–100 km/h4,43 s−2,80 s7,23 s
400 m standing start12,64 s−2,75 s15,39 s
1,000 m standing start23,01 s−5,97 s28,98 s
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h+90 km/h160 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio4,53 kg/hpbetter ratio8,51 kg/hp

Watch the race

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

BMWPetrolM140i xDrive F20LCI
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
CupraBEVBorn
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. Winner in green.

PalierM140i xDrive F20LCIBorn
0–30 km/h1,21 s1,88 s
0–50 km/h2,00 s3,15 s
0–80 km/h3,29 s5,26 s
0–100 km/h4,43 s7,23 s
0–120 km/h5,86 s9,79 s
0–160 km/h9,81 s18,15 s
0–200 km/h15,81 s-
400 m standing start12,64 s15,39 s
1,000 m standing start23,01 s28,98 s
Top speed limited250 km/h160 km/h

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

BMW

M140i xDrive F20LCI

4,53kg/hpratio better by 3,98 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power340 hp6 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 540 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic
Cupra

Born

8,51kg/hpcompensated by −170 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power201 hpPermanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
Torque310 Nm
Weight1 710 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxSingle-speed fixed gear

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Bmw M140i xDrive hits 100 km/h in 4.43 s versus 7.23 s for the Born. Despite lacking instant torque, 340 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Bmw M140i xDrive leads by 2.80 s and sits roughly 23 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Bmw M140i xDrive is doing 147 km/h against 122 km/h for the Born. The gap is 1.85 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw M140i xDrive crosses the line in 12.64 s versus 15.39 s. The 2.75 s gap represents roughly 109 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Bmw M140i xDrive continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 203 km/h versus 160 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Bmw M140i xDrive finishes in 23.01 s versus 28.98 s, with a 5.97 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

The Bmw M140i xDrive features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Born’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 Bmw M140i xDrive is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Born at 160 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 11.41 seconds. The 2.80 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of M140i xDrive F20LCI
Audi RS 3 SportbackAudi RS 3 SedanAudi S3 Sportback
Instead of Born
Bmw i3s (120 Ah)MINI Cooper SE FWDBmw i3 (120 Ah)

Autres duels qui pourraient vous intéresser

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M140i xDrive vs S3 Sedan

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M140i xDrive vs S3 Sportback

AudiVSBmw

RS 3 Sedan vs M140i xDrive

AudiVSBmw

RS 3 Sportback vs M140i xDrive

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, M140i xDrive F20LCI wins (4,43 s vs 7,23 s).

M140i xDrive F20LCI goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,43 seconds (calibrated simulation).

M140i xDrive F20LCI: 340 hp, ratio 4,53 kg/hp. Born: 201 hp, ratio 8,51 kg/hp.

M140i xDrive F20LCI: 250 km/h. Born: 160 km/h.