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AZ4vsBCaymanPetrol
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  • SpecsZ4 · Cayman

BMW Z4 M40i G29 vs Porsche Cayman S: 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.

sports car · 2021 vs 2014 · Methodology
BMWPetrolFaster

Z4 M40i G29

340 hp · 500 Nm · 1,555 kg · 2021

VS
PorschePetrol

Cayman S

330 hp · 369 Nm · 1,320 kg · 2014

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW Z4 M40i G29

4.54 s

Gap0.35 sin favour of Z4 M40i
BPorsche Cayman S

4.89 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureZ4 M40i G29Cayman SGap
0–100 km/h4.54 s4.89 s0.35 s · Z4 M40i G29
400 m standing start12.72 s12.90 s0.18 s · Z4 M40i G29
1,000 m standing start23.00 s23.17 s0.17 s · Z4 M40i G29
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h278 km/h28 km/h · Cayman S
Power-to-weight ratio4.57 kg/hp4.00 kg/hpbetter ratio · Cayman S

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
PorschePetrolCayman S
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.
StageZ4 M40i G29Cayman S
0–30 km/h1.26 s · tight gap1.36 s
0–50 km/h2.11 s2.26 s
0–80 km/h3.41 s3.70 s
0–100 km/h4.54 s4.89 s
0–120 km/h5.97 s6.21 s
0–160 km/h9.81 s · tight gap9.92 s
0–200 km/h15.62 s15.62 s
400 m standing start12.72 s12.90 s
1,000 m standing start23.00 s23.17 s
Top speed limited250 km/h278 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

Z4 M40i G29

4,57kg/hpcompensated by −235 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power340 hp6 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 555 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission
Porsche

Cayman S

4,00kg/hpratio better by 0,57 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power330 hpAluminum block and heads
Torque369 Nm
Weight1 320 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
Gearbox6-speed

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Z4 M40i hits 100 km/h in 4.55 s versus 4.90 s for the Cayman S. At this point, the Z4 M40i leads by 0.35 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Z4 M40i is doing 147 km/h against 147 km/h for the Cayman S. The gap is 0.21 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Z4 M40i crosses the line in 12.71 s versus 12.90 s. The 0.19 s gap represents roughly 9 m of track - barely a car length.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Z4 M40i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 204 km/h versus 205 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Z4 M40i finishes in 23.00 s versus 23.17 s, with a 0.17 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (278 km/h), the Cayman S never recovers its launch deficit.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Z4 M40i never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (4.57 kg/hp vs 4.00 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Unknown).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 7.04 seconds. The 0.35 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
BMW Z4 M40iBMW Z4 sDrive30i
Instead of Cayman S
Porsche 911 Carrera 4Porsche 911 Carrera SPorsche Cayman GT4

Other duels you might be interested in

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911 Carrera T vs Z4 M40i

BMWVSPorsche

Z4 M40i vs Cayman S

PorscheVSBMW

911 Carrera T PDK vs Z4 M40i

PorscheVSJaguar

Cayman S vs F-TYPE P300

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Z4 M40i G29 wins (4,54 s vs 4,89 s).

Z4 M40i G29 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,54 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Z4 M40i G29: 340 hp, ratio 4,57 kg/hp. Cayman S: 330 hp, ratio 4,00 kg/hp.

Z4 M40i G29: 250 km/h. Cayman S: 278 km/h.