BMW M550i xDrive G30 vs BYD Dolphin Boost 150kW: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the M550i xDrive hits 100 km/h in 3.76 s versus 6.93 s for the Dolphin Boost 150kW. Despite lacking instant torque, 530 hp of power compensates. At this point, the M550i xDrive leads by 3.18 s and sits roughly 24 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the M550i xDrive is doing 160 km/h against 126 km/h for the Dolphin Boost 150kW. The gap is 2.34 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the M550i xDrive crosses the line in 11.67 s versus 15.13 s. The 3.46 s gap represents roughly 140 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the M550i xDrive continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 225 km/h versus 160 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the M550i xDrive finishes in 21.03 s versus 28.66 s, with a 7.63 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the M550i xDrive is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Dolphin Boost 150kW 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 10.58 seconds. The 3.18 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.