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AM3vsBS60Petrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsM3 · S60

BMW M3 Competition F80 vs Volvo S60 T5 Geartronic: 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.

saloon · 2020 vs 2017 · Methodology
BMWPetrolFaster

M3 Competition F80

510 hp · 650 Nm · 1,730 kg · 2020

VS
VolvoPetrol

S60 T5 Geartronic

249 hp · 350 Nm · 1,615 kg · 2017

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW M3 Competition F80

3.88 s

Gap2.38 sin favour of M3 Competition
BVolvo S60 T5 Geartronic

6.26 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureM3 Competition F80S60 T5 GeartronicGap
0–100 km/h3.88 s6.26 s2.38 s · M3 Competition F80
400 m standing start11.65 s14.44 s2.79 s · M3 Competition F80
1,000 m standing start20.92 s26.11 s5.19 s · M3 Competition F80
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h245 km/h5 km/h · M3 Competition F80
Power-to-weight ratio3.39 kg/hp6.49 kg/hpbetter ratio · M3 Competition F80

Watch the race

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

BMWPetrolM3 Competition F80
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
VolvoPetrolS60 T5 Geartronic
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.
StageM3 Competition F80S60 T5 Geartronic
0–30 km/h1.14 s1.65 s
0–50 km/h1.90 s2.67 s
0–80 km/h3.01 s4.53 s
0–100 km/h3.88 s6.26 s
0–120 km/h4.84 s8.30 s
0–160 km/h7.51 s14.25 s
0–200 km/h11.33 s24.43 s
400 m standing start11.65 s14.44 s
1,000 m standing start20.92 s26.11 s
Top speed limited250 km/h245 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

M3 Competition F80

3,39kg/hpratio better by 3,09 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power510 hpPending
Torque650 Nm
Weight1 730 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic
Volvo

S60 T5 Geartronic

6,49kg/hpcompensated by −115 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power249 hpPending
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 615 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed automatic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the M3 Competition hits 100 km/h in 3.88 s versus 6.26 s for the S60 T5 Geartronic. At this point, the M3 Competition leads by 2.38 s and sits roughly 17 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the M3 Competition is doing 163 km/h against 130 km/h for the S60 T5 Geartronic. The gap is 1.77 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the M3 Competition crosses the line in 11.64 s versus 14.44 s. The 2.79 s gap represents roughly 119 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the M3 Competition continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 228 km/h versus 180 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the M3 Competition finishes in 20.91 s versus 26.10 s, with a 5.19 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 245 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the M3 Competition is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the S60 T5 Geartronic at 245 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 combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (3.39 kg/hp vs 6.49 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 9.51 seconds. The 2.38 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.

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BMW M340i xDrive

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, M3 Competition F80 wins (3,88 s vs 6,26 s).

M3 Competition F80 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3,88 seconds (calibrated simulation).

M3 Competition F80: 510 hp, ratio 3,39 kg/hp. S60 T5 Geartronic: 249 hp, ratio 6,49 kg/hp.

M3 Competition F80: 250 km/h. S60 T5 Geartronic: 245 km/h.