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AM5vsBS90Petrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsM5 · S90

BMW M5 Competition F90 vs Volvo S90 B5 AWD: 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.

grand tourer · 2018 vs 2022 · Methodology
BMWPetrolFaster

M5 Competition F90

625 hp · 750 Nm · 1,865 kg · 2018

VS
VolvoPetrol

S90 B5 AWD

250 hp · 350 Nm · 1,795 kg · 2022

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW M5 Competition F90

3.33 s

Gap3.25 sin favour of M5 Competition
BVolvo S90 B5 AWD

6.58 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureM5 Competition F90S90 B5 AWDGap
0–100 km/h3.33 s6.58 s3.25 s · M5 Competition F90
400 m standing start11.11 s14.76 s3.65 s · M5 Competition F90
1,000 m standing start20.22 s27.11 s6.89 s · M5 Competition F90
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h180 km/h70 km/h · M5 Competition F90
Power-to-weight ratio2.98 kg/hp7.18 kg/hpbetter ratio · M5 Competition F90

Watch the race

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

BMWPetrolM5 Competition F90
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
VolvoPetrolS90 B5 AWD
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.
StageM5 Competition F90S90 B5 AWD
0–30 km/h1.01 s1.70 s
0–50 km/h1.68 s2.57 s
0–80 km/h2.63 s4.64 s
0–100 km/h3.33 s6.58 s
0–120 km/h4.12 s8.89 s
0–160 km/h6.67 s15.63 s
0–200 km/h10.30 s-
400 m standing start11.11 s14.76 s
1,000 m standing start20.22 s27.11 s
Top speed limited250 km/h180 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

M5 Competition F90

2,98kg/hpratio better by 4,20 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power625 hpPending
Torque750 Nm
Weight1 865 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, transmission oil cooling
Volvo

S90 B5 AWD

7,18kg/hpcompensated by −70 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power250 hpPending
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 795 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox8-speed Geartronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the M5 Competition hits 100 km/h in 3.33 s versus 6.58 s for the S90 B5 AWD. At this point, the M5 Competition leads by 3.25 s and sits roughly 18 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the M5 Competition is doing 168 km/h against 125 km/h for the S90 B5 AWD. The gap is 2.36 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the M5 Competition crosses the line in 11.11 s versus 14.75 s. The 3.65 s gap represents roughly 148 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the M5 Competition continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 234 km/h versus 176 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the M5 Competition finishes in 20.21 s versus 27.11 s, with a 6.89 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the M5 Competition is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the S90 B5 AWD at 180 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 (2.98 kg/hp vs 7.18 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 10.37 seconds. The 3.25 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 M5 Competition F90
BMW M5BMW M5BMW M5 CS

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, M5 Competition F90 wins (3,33 s vs 6,58 s).

M5 Competition F90 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3,33 seconds (calibrated simulation).

M5 Competition F90: 625 hp, ratio 2,98 kg/hp. S90 B5 AWD: 250 hp, ratio 7,18 kg/hp.

M5 Competition F90: 250 km/h. S90 B5 AWD: 180 km/h.