Over 0–100 km/h, S 580 e 4MATIC W223 wins (4,45 s vs 7,24 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | S 580 e 4MATIC W223 | i3 I01 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 4.45 s | 7.24 s | 2.79 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223 |
| 400 m standing start | 12.55 s | 15.40 s | 2.85 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223 |
| 1,000 m standing start | 22.40 s | 29.80 s | 7.40 s · S 580 e 4MATIC W223 |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 250 km/h | 150 km/h | 100 km/h · S 580 e 4MATIC W223 |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 4.30 kg/hp | 7.47 kg/hp | better ratio · S 580 e 4MATIC W223 |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | S 580 e 4MATIC W223 | i3 I01 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.36 s | 1.88 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 2.02 s | 3.14 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 3.30 s | 5.25 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.45 s | 7.24 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 5.85 s | 9.85 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 9.47 s | - |
| 0–200 km/h | 14.19 s | - |
| 400 m standing start | 12.55 s | 15.40 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 22.40 s | 29.80 s |
| Top speed limited | 250 km/h | 150 km/h |
Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.
Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 585 hp | 6 cyl |
| Torque | 750 Nm | |
| Weight | 2 515 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Integrale (AWD) | |
| Gearbox | Unknown |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 170 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 250 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 270 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | Propulsion | |
| Gearbox | Automatic, single-speed with fixed ratio (9.665:1) |
Off the line, the S 580 e 4MATIC hits 100 km/h in 4.45 s versus 7.24 s for the i3. At this point, the S 580 e 4MATIC leads by 2.79 s and sits roughly 22 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC is doing 149 km/h against 122 km/h for the i3. The gap is 1.85 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the S 580 e 4MATIC crosses the line in 12.54 s versus 15.40 s. The 2.86 s gap represents roughly 113 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.
Past 400 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 212 km/h versus 150 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S 580 e 4MATIC finishes in 22.40 s versus 29.80 s, with a 7.40 s lead.
The S 580 e 4MATIC features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the i3’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 S 580 e 4MATIC is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the i3 at 150 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 plug-in hybrid powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (4.30 kg/hp vs 7.47 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.47 seconds. The 2.79 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Over 0–100 km/h, S 580 e 4MATIC W223 wins (4,45 s vs 7,24 s).
S 580 e 4MATIC W223 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,45 seconds (calibrated simulation).
S 580 e 4MATIC W223: 585 hp, ratio 4,30 kg/hp. i3 I01: 170 hp, ratio 7,47 kg/hp.
S 580 e 4MATIC W223: 250 km/h. i3 I01: 150 km/h.