BYD Seal 390 AWD vs BMW M3 F80: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Seal 390 AWD hits 100 km/h in 3.77 s versus 4.18 s for the Bmw M3. The instant torque of 670 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Seal 390 AWD leads by 0.41 s and sits roughly 6 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Seal 390 AWD is doing 155 km/h against 154 km/h for the Bmw M3. The gap is 0.34 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the Seal 390 AWD crosses the line in 11.93 s versus 12.25 s. The 0.32 s gap represents roughly 17 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The Seal 390 AWD maxes out at 180 km/h while the Bmw M3 keeps accelerating towards 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.17 s.

Around 544 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the Bmw M3 overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 70 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the Bmw M3 finishes in 21.95 s versus 23.93 s. The 1.98 s delta in favour of the Bmw M3 shows that top speed makes a clear difference.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Seal 390 AWD is capped at 180 km/h, the Bmw M3 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.

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 6.22 seconds. The 0.41 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.