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Home›Duel›Cupra Leon vs BMW 116i

Performance comparison

Cupra Leon VZe vs BMW 116i F40: 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.

CupraPHEVFaster

Leon VZe

241 hp · 350 Nm · 1,630 kg · 2023

VS
BMWPetrol

116i F40

109 hp · 190 Nm · 1,320 kg · 2020

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.

Leon VZe116i F40
0–100 km/h7,45 s−3,08 s10,53 s
400 m standing start15,42 s−2,04 s17,46 s
1,000 m standing start27,49 s−4,68 s32,17 s
Top speed (electronically limited)225 km/h+26 km/h199 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio6,76 kg/hpbetter ratio12,11 kg/hp

Watch the race

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

CupraPHEVLeon VZe
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol116i F40
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.

PalierLeon VZe116i F40
0–30 km/h2,08 s1,94 stight gap
0–50 km/h3,48 s3,42 stight gap
0–80 km/h5,63 s7,04 s
0–100 km/h7,45 s10,53 s
0–120 km/h9,63 s15,20 s
0–160 km/h16,26 s31,08 s
0–200 km/h29,27 s-
400 m standing start15,42 s17,46 s
1,000 m standing start27,49 s32,17 s
Top speed225 km/h199 km/h

Under the bonnet

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

Cupra

Leon VZe

6,76kg/hpratio better by 5,35 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power241 hpPending
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 630 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox6-speed DSG
BMW

116i F40

12,11kg/hpcompensated by −310 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power109 hp3 cyl
Torque190 Nm
Weight1 320 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxSix-speed manual (seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission)

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Leon VZe hits 100 km/h in 7.45 s versus 10.53 s for the Bmw 116i. The instant torque of 350 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Leon VZe leads by 3.08 s and sits roughly 9 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Leon VZe is doing 126 km/h against 104 km/h for the Bmw 116i. The gap is 0.93 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Leon VZe crosses the line in 15.41 s versus 17.45 s. The 2.04 s gap represents roughly 70 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Leon VZe continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 174 km/h versus 143 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Leon VZe finishes in 27.49 s versus 32.17 s, with a 4.68 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Leon VZe is capped at 225 km/h, the Bmw 116i at 200 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 18.13 seconds. The 3.08 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 Leon VZe
DS DS4 E-Tense 300 4WDAudi A3 Sportback TFSI e 200 kWAudi A3 allstreet
Instead of 116i F40
Audi A1 allstreet 30 TFSI S tronic 85 kWAudi A3 Sportback TFSI 85 kWAudi A1 Sportback 30 TFSI 85 kW

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A3 allstreet vs 116i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Leon VZe wins (7,45 s vs 10,53 s).

Leon VZe goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,45 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Leon VZe: 241 hp, ratio 6,76 kg/hp. 116i F40: 109 hp, ratio 12,11 kg/hp.

Leon VZe: 225 km/h. 116i F40: 199 km/h.