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Porsche Boxster Spyder 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 · 2011 vs 2021 · Methodology
PorschePetrolFaster

Boxster Spyder

320 hp · 370 Nm · 1,275 kg · 2011

VS
BMWPetrol

Z4 sDrive30i G29

258 hp · 400 Nm · 1,430 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

APorsche Boxster Spyder

4.75 s

Gap0.71 sin favour of Boxster Spyder
BBMW Z4 sDrive30i G29

5.45 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureBoxster SpyderZ4 sDrive30i G29Gap
0–100 km/h4.75 s5.45 s0.71 s · Boxster Spyder
400 m standing start12.81 s13.71 s0.90 s · Boxster Spyder
1,000 m standing start22.98 s24.82 s1.84 s · Boxster Spyder
Top speed (electronically limited)272 km/h250 km/h22 km/h · Boxster Spyder
Power-to-weight ratio3.98 kg/hp5.54 kg/hpbetter ratio · Boxster Spyder

Watch the race

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

PorschePetrolBoxster Spyder
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.
StageBoxster SpyderZ4 sDrive30i G29
0–30 km/h1.27 s1.46 s
0–50 km/h2.12 s2.42 s
0–80 km/h3.75 s4.03 s
0–100 km/h4.75 s5.45 s
0–120 km/h6.27 s7.26 s
0–160 km/h9.61 s12.26 s
0–200 km/h15.02 s20.34 s
400 m standing start12.81 s13.71 s
1,000 m standing start22.98 s24.82 s
Top speed limited272 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

Boxster Spyder

3,98kg/hpratio better by 1,56 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power320 hpB6
Torque370 Nm
Weight1 275 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxUnknown
BMW

Z4 sDrive30i G29

5,54kg/hpcompensated by −155 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power258 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 430 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Boxster Spyder hits 100 km/h in 4.75 s versus 5.45 s for the Z4 sDrive30i. At this point, the Boxster Spyder leads by 0.71 s and sits roughly 6 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Boxster Spyder is doing 148 km/h against 136 km/h for the Z4 sDrive30i. The gap is 0.50 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Boxster Spyder crosses the line in 12.80 s versus 13.70 s. The 0.90 s gap represents roughly 42 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Boxster Spyder continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 206 km/h versus 189 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Boxster Spyder finishes in 22.97 s versus 24.81 s, with a 1.84 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Z4 sDrive30i never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (3.98 kg/hp vs 5.54 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.31 seconds. The 0.71 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 sDrive30i G29
BMW Z4 sDrive30i

Other duels you might be interested in

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Boxster vs Z4 sDrive30i

BMWVSPorsche

Z4 M40i vs Boxster Spyder

PorscheVSBMW

Boxster vs Z4 sDrive30i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Boxster Spyder wins (4,75 s vs 5,45 s).

Boxster Spyder goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,75 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Boxster Spyder: 320 hp, ratio 3,98 kg/hp. Z4 sDrive30i G29: 258 hp, ratio 5,54 kg/hp.

Boxster Spyder: 272 km/h. Z4 sDrive30i G29: 250 km/h.