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A718vsB420iPetrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • Specs718 · 420i

Porsche 718 Cayman vs BMW 420i xDrive G22: 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 2021 · Methodology
PorschePetrolFaster

718 Cayman

300 hp · 380 Nm · 1,335 kg · 2018

VS
BMWPetrol

420i xDrive G22

184 hp · 300 Nm · 1,590 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

APorsche 718 Cayman

4.56 s

Gap3.18 sin favour of 718 Cayman
BBMW 420i xDrive G22

7.74 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure718 Cayman420i xDrive G22Gap
0–100 km/h4.56 s7.74 s3.18 s · 718 Cayman
400 m standing start12.66 s15.61 s2.95 s · 718 Cayman
1,000 m standing start22.89 s28.72 s5.83 s · 718 Cayman
Top speed (electronically limited)274 km/h234 km/h40 km/h · 718 Cayman
Power-to-weight ratio4.45 kg/hp8.64 kg/hpbetter ratio · 718 Cayman

Watch the race

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

PorschePetrol718 Cayman
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol420i xDrive G22
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 Cayman420i xDrive G22
0–30 km/h1.28 s · tight gap1.38 s
0–50 km/h2.13 s2.58 s
0–80 km/h3.50 s5.26 s
0–100 km/h4.56 s7.74 s
0–120 km/h5.89 s10.94 s
0–160 km/h9.50 s20.29 s
0–200 km/h15.19 s38.25 s
400 m standing start12.66 s15.61 s
1,000 m standing start22.89 s28.72 s
Top speed274 km/h234 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 Cayman

4,45kg/hpratio better by 4,19 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power300 hpB4
Torque380 Nm
Weight1 335 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxDUAL_CLUTCH
BMW

420i xDrive G22

8,64kg/hpcompensated by −255 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hpPending
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 590 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 718 Cayman hits 100 km/h in 4.56 s versus 7.74 s for the 420i xDrive. At this point, the 718 Cayman leads by 3.18 s and sits roughly 13 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 718 Cayman is doing 149 km/h against 115 km/h for the 420i xDrive. The gap is 1.69 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 718 Cayman crosses the line in 12.65 s versus 15.61 s. The 2.95 s gap represents roughly 112 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 718 Cayman continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 206 km/h versus 160 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 718 Cayman finishes in 22.89 s versus 28.71 s, with a 5.83 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 718 Cayman is capped at 274 km/h, the 420i xDrive at 238 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 (4.45 kg/hp vs 8.64 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.85 seconds. The 3.18 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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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 718 Cayman wins (4,56 s vs 7,74 s).

718 Cayman goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,56 seconds (calibrated simulation).

718 Cayman: 300 hp, ratio 4,45 kg/hp. 420i xDrive G22: 184 hp, ratio 8,64 kg/hp.

718 Cayman: 274 km/h. 420i xDrive G22: 234 km/h.