Skip to main content
CaralogyCaralogy
HomeBrandsRoad TripBudgetDuelGuides
Caralogy

The car comparison platform. Physics simulation, road trips, real costs.

Navigation
All brandsCar duelRunning costsMotorwayMethodology
Simulators
Motorway simulatorRunning costsPerformance duel
Brands
VolkswagenBMWMercedesToyotaTeslaAudi
FRENDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
  1. Home
  2. /Duel
  3. /Sports Cars
ABoxstervsB420iPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsBoxster · 420i

Porsche Boxster S Manual vs BMW 420i Convertible 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 · 2010 vs 2021 · Methodology
PorschePetrolFaster

Boxster S Manual

314 hp · 361 Nm · 1,355 kg · 2010

VS
BMWPetrol

420i Convertible G22

184 hp · 300 Nm · 1,690 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

APorsche Boxster S Manual

4.84 s

Gap3.30 sin favour of Boxster S Manual
BBMW 420i Convertible G22

8.14 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureBoxster S Manual420i Convertible G22Gap
0–100 km/h4.84 s8.14 s3.30 s · Boxster S Manual
400 m standing start12.93 s15.97 s3.04 s · Boxster S Manual
1,000 m standing start23.37 s28.97 s5.60 s · Boxster S Manual
Top speed (electronically limited)269 km/h236 km/h33 km/h · Boxster S Manual
Power-to-weight ratio4.32 kg/hp9.18 kg/hpbetter ratio · Boxster S Manual

Watch the race

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

PorschePetrolBoxster S Manual
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol420i Convertible 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.
StageBoxster S Manual420i Convertible G22
0–30 km/h1.25 s1.81 s
0–50 km/h2.09 s3.07 s
0–80 km/h3.71 s5.69 s
0–100 km/h4.84 s8.14 s
0–120 km/h6.18 s11.24 s
0–160 km/h10.12 s20.26 s
0–200 km/h16.23 s36.93 s
400 m standing start12.93 s15.97 s
1,000 m standing start23.37 s28.97 s
Top speed269 km/h236 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

Boxster S Manual

4,32kg/hpratio better by 4,87 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power314 hp6 cyl
Torque361 Nm
Weight1 355 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxMANUAL
BMW

420i Convertible G22

9,18kg/hpcompensated by −335 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hp4 cyl
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 690 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Boxster S Manual hits 100 km/h in 4.85 s versus 8.14 s for the 420i Convertible. At this point, the Boxster S Manual leads by 3.30 s and sits roughly 21 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Boxster S Manual is doing 145 km/h against 115 km/h for the 420i Convertible. The gap is 1.90 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Boxster S Manual crosses the line in 12.93 s versus 15.96 s. The 3.03 s gap represents roughly 115 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Boxster S Manual continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 202 km/h versus 161 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Boxster S Manual finishes in 23.37 s versus 28.97 s, with a 5.59 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Boxster S Manual is capped at 274 km/h, the 420i Convertible at 236 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 (4.32 kg/hp vs 9.18 kg/hp) and transmission (Manual vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 13.10 seconds. The 3.30 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

PorscheVSJaguar

Boxster S Manual vs F-TYPE P300

AudiVSBMW

A4 40 TFSI vs 420i Convertible

BMWVSPorsche

Z4 M40i vs Boxster S Manual

AudiVSBMW

A5 Avant vs 420i Convertible

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Boxster S Manual wins (4,84 s vs 8,14 s).

Boxster S Manual goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,84 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Boxster S Manual: 314 hp, ratio 4,32 kg/hp. 420i Convertible G22: 184 hp, ratio 9,18 kg/hp.

Boxster S Manual: 269 km/h. 420i Convertible G22: 236 km/h.