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A911vsBZ4Petrol
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  • Specs911 · Z4

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 991.2 vs BMW Z4 M40i G29: 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 · 2017 vs 2021 · Methodology
PorschePetrolFaster

911 Carrera 4 991.2

375 hp · 449 Nm · 1,480 kg · 2017

VS
BMWPetrol

Z4 M40i G29

340 hp · 500 Nm · 1,555 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

APorsche 911 Carrera 4 991.2

4.16 s

Gap0.38 sin favour of 911 Carrera 4
BBMW Z4 M40i G29

4.54 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure911 Carrera 4 991.2Z4 M40i G29Gap
0–100 km/h4.16 s4.54 s0.38 s · 911 Carrera 4 991.2
400 m standing start12.19 s12.72 s0.53 s · 911 Carrera 4 991.2
1,000 m standing start22.01 s23.00 s0.99 s · 911 Carrera 4 991.2
Top speed (electronically limited)286 km/h250 km/h36 km/h · 911 Carrera 4 991.2
Power-to-weight ratio3.95 kg/hp4.57 kg/hpbetter ratio · 911 Carrera 4 991.2

Watch the race

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

PorschePetrol911 Carrera 4 991.2
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrolZ4 M40i G29
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.
Stage911 Carrera 4 991.2Z4 M40i G29
0–30 km/h1.17 s · tight gap1.26 s
0–50 km/h1.96 s · tight gap2.11 s
0–80 km/h3.21 s3.41 s
0–100 km/h4.16 s4.54 s
0–120 km/h5.39 s5.97 s
0–160 km/h8.56 s9.81 s
0–200 km/h13.31 s15.62 s
400 m standing start12.19 s12.72 s
1,000 m standing start22.01 s23.00 s
Top speed limited286 km/h250 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

911 Carrera 4 991.2

3,95kg/hpratio better by 0,63 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power375 hpB6
Torque449 Nm
Weight1 480 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxDUAL_CLUTCH
BMW

Z4 M40i G29

4,57kg/hpcompensated by −75 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power340 hp6 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 555 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 911 Carrera 4 hits 100 km/h in 4.16 s versus 4.55 s for the Z4 M40i. At this point, the 911 Carrera 4 leads by 0.38 s and sits roughly 4 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 911 Carrera 4 is doing 155 km/h against 147 km/h for the Z4 M40i. The gap is 0.32 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the 911 Carrera 4 crosses the line in 12.19 s versus 12.71 s. The 0.53 s gap represents roughly 27 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 911 Carrera 4 continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 215 km/h versus 204 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 911 Carrera 4 finishes in 22.00 s versus 23.00 s, with a 0.99 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 911 Carrera 4 is capped at 291 km/h, the Z4 M40i at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) 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 (3.95 kg/hp vs 4.57 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 6.79 seconds. The 0.38 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 911 Carrera 4 991.2
Porsche Cayman SPorsche 911 Carrera SPorsche 2020 911 Carrera 4S
Instead of Z4 M40i G29
BMW Z4 M40iBMW Z4 sDrive30i

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911 Carrera 4 vs F-TYPE P300

PorscheVSBMW

911 Carrera T PDK vs Z4 M40i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 911 Carrera 4 991.2 wins (4,16 s vs 4,54 s).

911 Carrera 4 991.2 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,16 seconds (calibrated simulation).

911 Carrera 4 991.2: 375 hp, ratio 3,95 kg/hp. Z4 M40i G29: 340 hp, ratio 4,57 kg/hp.

911 Carrera 4 991.2: 286 km/h. Z4 M40i G29: 250 km/h.