Skip to main content
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
FRENDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
  1. Home
  2. /Duel
  3. /Sedans
ASHybridvsB9PHEV
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsS · 9

Mercedes S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223 vs DS9 E-Tense 250: 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.

limousine · 2026 vs 2021 · Methodology
MercedesHybridFaster

S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223

449 hp · 600 Nm · 2,195 kg · 2026

VS
DSPHEV

9 E-Tense 250

253 hp · 520 Nm · 1,900 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

AMercedes S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223

4.45 s

Gap3.91 sin favour of S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion
BDS9 E-Tense 250

8.36 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureS 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W2239 E-Tense 250Gap
0–100 km/h4.45 s8.36 s3.91 s · S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223
400 m standing start12.59 s16.22 s3.63 s · S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223
1,000 m standing start22.69 s28.57 s5.88 s · S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h235 km/h15 km/h · S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223
Power-to-weight ratio4.89 kg/hp7.51 kg/hpbetter ratio · S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223

Watch the race

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

MercedesHybridS 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
DSPHEV9 E-Tense 250
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.
StageS 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W2239 E-Tense 250
0–30 km/h1.04 s2.40 s
0–50 km/h1.78 s4.01 s
0–80 km/h3.16 s6.47 s
0–100 km/h4.45 s8.36 s
0–120 km/h5.85 s10.88 s
0–160 km/h9.77 s18.12 s
0–200 km/h15.18 s31.70 s
400 m standing start12.59 s16.22 s
1,000 m standing start22.69 s28.57 s
Top speed limited250 km/h235 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.

Mercedes

S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223

4,89kg/hpratio better by 2,62 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power449 hpPending
Torque600 Nm
Weight2 195 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxUnknown
DS

9 E-Tense 250

7,51kg/hpcompensated by −295 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power253 hpPending
Torque520 Nm
Weight1 900 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed automatic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion hits 100 km/h in 4.45 s versus 8.36 s for the 9 E-Tense 250. Despite lacking instant torque, 449 hp of power compensates. At this point, the S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion leads by 3.91 s and sits roughly 36 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion is doing 145 km/h against 121 km/h for the 9 E-Tense 250. The gap is 2.76 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion crosses the line in 12.59 s versus 16.22 s. The 3.63 s gap represents roughly 143 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 207 km/h versus 170 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion finishes in 22.69 s versus 28.57 s, with a 5.88 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion 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.

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 12.32 seconds. The 3.91 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSMercedes

A8 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic 340 kW vs S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion

DS9VSBMW

E-Tense 250 vs 530e iPerformance

AudiVSMercedes

A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro tiptronic vs S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion

DS9VSBMW

E-Tense 250 vs 530e iPerformance

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223 wins (4,45 s vs 8,36 s).

S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,45 seconds (calibrated simulation).

S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223: 449 hp, ratio 4,89 kg/hp. 9 E-Tense 250: 253 hp, ratio 7,51 kg/hp.

S 500 4MATIC Limousine Langversion W223: 250 km/h. 9 E-Tense 250: 235 km/h.