Aller au contenu principal
CaralogyCaralogy
HomeBrandsRoad TripBudgetDuelGuides
Caralogy

The car comparison platform. Physics simulation, road trips, real costs.

Navigation
All brandsCar duelRunning costsMotorwayMethodology
Simulators
Motorway simulatorRunning costsPerformance duel
Brands
VolkswagenBMWMercedesToyotaTeslaAudi
FRDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
Home›Duel›BMW Z4 vs Porsche Boxster

Performance comparison

BMW Z4 M40i G29 vs Porsche Boxster S PDK 987: 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.

BMWPetrolFaster

Z4 M40i G29

340 hp · 500 Nm · 1,535 kg · 2018

VS
PorschePetrol

Boxster S PDK 987

314 hp · 361 Nm · 1,380 kg · 2010

MotorwayRange & chargingPerformance0-100, top speedConsumptionAnnual TCO

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.

Z4 M40i G29Boxster S PDK 987
0–100 km/h4,54 s−0,33 s4,87 s
400 m standing start12,70 s−0,21 s12,91 s
1,000 m standing start22,95 s−0,29 s23,24 s
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h272 km/h−22 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio4,51 kg/hp4,39 kg/hpbetter ratio

Watch the race

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

BMWPetrolZ4 M40i G29
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
PorschePetrolBoxster S PDK 987
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. Winner in green.

PalierZ4 M40i G29Boxster S PDK 987
0–30 km/h1,27 s1,35 stight gap
0–50 km/h2,12 s2,26 stight gap
0–80 km/h3,42 s3,70 s
0–100 km/h4,54 s4,87 s
0–120 km/h5,95 s6,20 s
0–160 km/h9,74 s9,94 s
0–200 km/h15,46 s15,74 s
400 m standing start12,70 s12,91 s
1,000 m standing start22,95 s23,24 s
Top speed limited250 km/h272 km/h

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

BMW

Z4 M40i G29

4,51kg/hpcompensated by −155 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power340 hp6 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 535 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainZ4 M40i
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission
Porsche

Boxster S PDK 987

4,39kg/hpratio better by 0,12 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power314 hp6 cyl
Torque361 Nm
Weight1 380 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain—
GearboxDUAL_CLUTCH

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Bmw Z4 M40i hits 100 km/h in 4.54 s versus 4.87 s for the Boxster S PDK. At this point, the Bmw Z4 M40i leads by 0.33 s and sits roughly 4 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Bmw Z4 M40i is doing 147 km/h against 147 km/h for the Boxster S PDK. The gap is 0.20 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw Z4 M40i crosses the line in 12.70 s versus 12.91 s. The 0.21 s gap represents roughly 11 m of track — two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Bmw Z4 M40i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 205 km/h versus 204 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Bmw Z4 M40i finishes in 22.95 s versus 23.23 s, with a 0.29 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (272 km/h), the Boxster S PDK never recovers its launch deficit.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Bmw Z4 M40i is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph — industry threshold) km/h, the Boxster S PDK at 272 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 (4.51 kg/hp vs 4.39 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 7.07 seconds. The 0.33 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 Z4 M40i G29
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S CabrioletPorsche 911 Carrera S CabrioletPorsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

Autres duels qui pourraient vous intéresser

BmwVSMG

Z4 M40i vs Cyberster RWD

BmwVSPorsche

Z4 M40i vs 2020 911 Carrera S Cabriolet

BmwVSMG

Z4 M40i vs Cyberster AWD

BmwVSPorsche

840i xDrive Convertible vs Boxster S PDK

Frequently asked questions

Sur 0–100 km/h, Z4 M40i G29 gagne (4,54 s vs 4,87 s).

Z4 M40i G29 passe de 0 à 100 km/h en 4,54 secondes (simulation calibrée).

Z4 M40i G29 : 340 hp, ratio 4,51 kg/hp. Boxster S PDK 987 : 314 hp, ratio 4,39 kg/hp.

Z4 M40i G29 : 250 km/h. Boxster S PDK 987 : 272 km/h.