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A911vsBZ4Petrol
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  • Specs911 · Z4

Porsche 911 Targa 4 991.2 vs BMW Z4 sDrive30i 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 2018 · Methodology
PorschePetrolFaster

911 Targa 4 991.2

375 hp · 449 Nm · 1,570 kg · 2017

VS
BMWPetrol

Z4 sDrive30i G29

258 hp · 400 Nm · 1,415 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

APorsche 911 Targa 4 991.2

4.38 s

Gap0.97 sin favour of 911 Targa 4
BBMW Z4 sDrive30i G29

5.35 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure911 Targa 4 991.2Z4 sDrive30i G29Gap
0–100 km/h4.38 s5.35 s0.97 s · 911 Targa 4 991.2
400 m standing start12.45 s13.60 s1.15 s · 911 Targa 4 991.2
1,000 m standing start22.44 s24.60 s2.16 s · 911 Targa 4 991.2
Top speed (electronically limited)283 km/h250 km/h33 km/h · 911 Targa 4 991.2
Power-to-weight ratio4.19 kg/hp5.48 kg/hpbetter ratio · 911 Targa 4 991.2

Watch the race

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

PorschePetrol911 Targa 4 991.2
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrolZ4 sDrive30i 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 Targa 4 991.2Z4 sDrive30i G29
0–30 km/h1.23 s1.44 s
0–50 km/h2.05 s2.40 s
0–80 km/h3.37 s3.96 s
0–100 km/h4.38 s5.35 s
0–120 km/h5.69 s7.11 s
0–160 km/h9.07 s11.95 s
0–200 km/h14.16 s19.65 s
400 m standing start12.45 s13.60 s
1,000 m standing start22.44 s24.60 s
Top speed limited283 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 Targa 4 991.2

4,19kg/hpratio better by 1,30 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power375 hpB6
Torque449 Nm
Weight1 570 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxDUAL_CLUTCH
BMW

Z4 sDrive30i G29

5,48kg/hpcompensated by −155 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power258 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 415 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 911 Targa 4 hits 100 km/h in 4.38 s versus 5.35 s for the Z4 sDrive30i. At this point, the 911 Targa 4 leads by 0.97 s and sits roughly 9 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 911 Targa 4 is doing 152 km/h against 137 km/h for the Z4 sDrive30i. The gap is 0.72 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 911 Targa 4 crosses the line in 12.44 s versus 13.60 s. The 1.15 s gap represents roughly 53 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 911 Targa 4 continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 211 km/h versus 191 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 911 Targa 4 finishes in 22.44 s versus 24.59 s, with a 2.15 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 911 Targa 4 is capped at 288 km/h, the Z4 sDrive30i 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 (4.19 kg/hp vs 5.48 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.13 seconds. The 0.97 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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911 Targa 4 vs Z4 M40i

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Boxster vs Z4 sDrive30i

PorscheVSBMW

911 Targa 4 vs Z4 M40i

PorscheVSBMW

Boxster vs Z4 sDrive30i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 911 Targa 4 991.2 wins (4,38 s vs 5,35 s).

911 Targa 4 991.2 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,38 seconds (calibrated simulation).

911 Targa 4 991.2: 375 hp, ratio 4,19 kg/hp. Z4 sDrive30i G29: 258 hp, ratio 5,48 kg/hp.

911 Targa 4 991.2: 283 km/h. Z4 sDrive30i G29: 250 km/h.