Bmw X3 M40i G01 vs Porsche 718 Cayman : which one is faster?
0-100 km/h, 400 m, 1000 m, top speed — physics simulation calibrated on 7 measures.
Simulation de performance
Race simulation at real speed
CONFIDENCE 96%Calibrated physics simulation: SCx via VMax, power curves, Crr via WLTP, drivetrain losses. Manufacturer 0-100 is the calibration target. Confidence 96 %.
Bmw X3 M40i vs 718 Cayman: chronicle of a drag race at 274 km/h
The launch: 0 to 100 km/h
Off the line, the 718 Cayman hits 100 km/h in 4.56 s versus 4.76 s for the Bmw X3 M40i. The 0.20 s gap is negligible: both vehicles are neck and neck.
From 100 km/h to 400 metres
At 200 metres, the 718 Cayman is doing 149 km/h against 142 km/h for the Bmw X3 M40i. The gap is 0.16 s. The gap remains stable from the start.
At 400 metres standing start, the 718 Cayman crosses the line in 12.65 s versus 13.01 s. The 0.36 s gap represents roughly 18 m of track — two to three car lengths.
Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play
Past 400 metres, the 718 Cayman continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 206 km/h versus 197 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 718 Cayman finishes in 22.89 s versus 23.71 s, with a 0.82 s lead.
What the numbers don’t tell you
The Bmw X3 M40i features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the 718 Cayman’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 X3 M40i is capped at 250 km/h, the 718 Cayman at 274 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 (5.11 kg/hp vs 4.45 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 7.24 seconds. The 0.20 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Porsche 718 Cayman is slightly faster than the Bmw X3 M40i to 100 km/h. The edge holds on standing starts but may narrow at higher speeds depending on aerodynamic load.