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A718vsB420iPetrol
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  • Specs718 · 420i

Porsche 718 Boxster S vs BMW 420i F32: 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 · 2018 vs 2020 · Methodology
PorschePetrolFaster

718 Boxster S

350 hp · 420 Nm · 1,355 kg · 2018

VS
BMWPetrol

420i F32

184 hp · 300 Nm · 1,525 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

APorsche 718 Boxster S

4.16 s

Gap3.28 sin favour of 718 Boxster S
BBMW 420i F32

7.44 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure718 Boxster S420i F32Gap
0–100 km/h4.16 s7.44 s3.28 s · 718 Boxster S
400 m standing start12.06 s15.38 s3.32 s · 718 Boxster S
1,000 m standing start21.70 s28.23 s6.53 s · 718 Boxster S
Top speed (electronically limited)285 km/h238 km/h47 km/h · 718 Boxster S
Power-to-weight ratio3.87 kg/hp8.29 kg/hpbetter ratio · 718 Boxster S

Watch the race

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

PorschePetrol718 Boxster S
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol420i F32
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.
Stage718 Boxster S420i F32
0–30 km/h1.18 s1.42 s
0–50 km/h1.98 s2.53 s
0–80 km/h3.21 s5.09 s
0–100 km/h4.16 s7.44 s
0–120 km/h5.25 s10.39 s
0–160 km/h8.26 s19.05 s
0–200 km/h12.69 s35.17 s
400 m standing start12.06 s15.38 s
1,000 m standing start21.70 s28.23 s
Top speed285 km/h238 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.

Porsche

718 Boxster S

3,87kg/hpratio better by 4,42 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power350 hpB4
Torque420 Nm
Weight1 355 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxDUAL_CLUTCH
BMW

420i F32

8,29kg/hpcompensated by −170 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hp4 cyl
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 525 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 718 Boxster S hits 100 km/h in 4.16 s versus 7.44 s for the 420i. At this point, the 718 Boxster S leads by 3.28 s and sits roughly 14 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 718 Boxster S is doing 157 km/h against 117 km/h for the 420i. The gap is 1.94 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 718 Boxster S crosses the line in 12.06 s versus 15.38 s. The 3.32 s gap represents roughly 127 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 718 Boxster S continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 218 km/h versus 163 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 718 Boxster S finishes in 21.69 s versus 28.23 s, with a 6.53 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 718 Boxster S is capped at 285 km/h, the 420i at 240 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 (3.87 kg/hp vs 8.29 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.15 seconds. The 3.28 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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718 Boxster S vs Z4 M40i

AudiVSBMW

A4 40 TFSI vs 420i

PorscheVSBMW

718 Boxster S vs Z4 M40i

AudiVSBMW

A5 Avant vs 420i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 718 Boxster S wins (4,16 s vs 7,44 s).

718 Boxster S goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,16 seconds (calibrated simulation).

718 Boxster S: 350 hp, ratio 3,87 kg/hp. 420i F32: 184 hp, ratio 8,29 kg/hp.

718 Boxster S: 285 km/h. 420i F32: 238 km/h.