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Home›Duel›BMW Z4 vs Porsche Boxster

Performance comparison

BMW Z4 M40i G29 vs Porsche Boxster S 981: 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.

BMWPetrolFaster

Z4 M40i G29

340 hp · 500 Nm · 1,535 kg · 2018

VS
PorschePetrol

Boxster S 981

319 hp · 361 Nm · 1,320 kg · 2013

MotorwayRange & chargingPerformance0-100, top speedConsumptionAnnual TCO

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.

Z4 M40i G29Boxster S 981
0–100 km/h4,54 s−0,40 s4,94 s
400 m standing start12,70 s−0,31 s13,01 s
1,000 m standing start22,95 s−0,52 s23,47 s
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h273 km/h−23 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio4,51 kg/hp4,14 kg/hpbetter ratio

Watch the race

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

BMWPetrolZ4 M40i G29
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
PorschePetrolBoxster S 981
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. Winner in green.

PalierZ4 M40i G29Boxster S 981
0–30 km/h1,27 s1,36 stight gap
0–50 km/h2,12 s2,26 stight gap
0–80 km/h3,42 s3,72 s
0–100 km/h4,54 s4,94 s
0–120 km/h5,95 s6,32 s
0–160 km/h9,74 s10,22 s
0–200 km/h15,46 s16,38 s
400 m standing start12,70 s13,01 s
1,000 m standing start22,95 s23,47 s
Top speed limited250 km/h273 km/h

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

BMW

Z4 M40i G29

4,51kg/hpcompensated by −215 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power340 hp6 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 535 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainZ4 M40i
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission
Porsche

Boxster S 981

4,14kg/hpratio better by 0,38 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power319 hpAluminum block and heads
Torque361 Nm
Weight1 320 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain—
Gearbox6-speed

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Bmw Z4 M40i hits 100 km/h in 4.54 s versus 4.94 s for the Boxster S. At this point, the Bmw Z4 M40i leads by 0.40 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Bmw Z4 M40i is doing 147 km/h against 145 km/h for the Boxster S. The gap is 0.26 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw Z4 M40i crosses the line in 12.70 s versus 13.01 s. The 0.31 s gap represents roughly 16 m of track — two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Bmw Z4 M40i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 205 km/h versus 202 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Bmw Z4 M40i finishes in 22.95 s versus 23.47 s, with a 0.52 s lead. Despite a higher top speed (273 km/h), the Boxster S never recovers its launch deficit.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Bmw Z4 M40i is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph — industry threshold) km/h, the Boxster S at 279 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 (4.51 kg/hp vs 4.14 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Unknown).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 7.23 seconds. The 0.40 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 Z4 M40i G29
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S CabrioletPorsche 911 Carrera S CabrioletPorsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

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Frequently asked questions

Sur 0–100 km/h, Z4 M40i G29 gagne (4,54 s vs 4,94 s).

Z4 M40i G29 passe de 0 à 100 km/h en 4,54 secondes (simulation calibrée).

Z4 M40i G29 : 340 hp, ratio 4,51 kg/hp. Boxster S 981 : 319 hp, ratio 4,14 kg/hp.

Z4 M40i G29 : 250 km/h. Boxster S 981 : 273 km/h.