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ACaymanvsB420iPetrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsCayman · 420i

Porsche Cayman vs BMW 420i F32: 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 · 2014 vs 2020 · Methodology
PorschePetrolFaster

Cayman

279 hp · 289 Nm · 1,310 kg · 2014

VS
BMWPetrol

420i F32

184 hp · 300 Nm · 1,525 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

APorsche Cayman

5.52 s

Gap1.92 sin favour of Cayman
BBMW 420i F32

7.44 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureCayman420i F32Gap
0–100 km/h5.52 s7.44 s1.92 s · Cayman
400 m standing start13.64 s15.38 s1.74 s · Cayman
1,000 m standing start24.69 s28.23 s3.54 s · Cayman
Top speed (electronically limited)253 km/h238 km/h15 km/h · Cayman
Power-to-weight ratio4.70 kg/hp8.29 kg/hpbetter ratio · Cayman

Watch the race

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

PorschePetrolCayman
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol420i F32
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.
StageCayman420i F32
0–30 km/h1.38 s · tight gap1.42 s
0–50 km/h2.30 s2.53 s
0–80 km/h4.02 s5.09 s
0–100 km/h5.52 s7.44 s
0–120 km/h7.16 s10.39 s
0–160 km/h12.01 s19.05 s
0–200 km/h19.90 s35.17 s
400 m standing start13.64 s15.38 s
1,000 m standing start24.69 s28.23 s
Top speed253 km/h238 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

Cayman

4,70kg/hpratio better by 3,59 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power279 hpAluminum block and heads
Torque289 Nm
Weight1 310 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
Gearbox6-speed
BMW

420i F32

8,29kg/hpcompensated by −215 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hp4 cyl
Torque300 Nm
Weight1 525 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Cayman hits 100 km/h in 5.52 s versus 7.44 s for the 420i. At this point, the Cayman leads by 1.92 s and sits roughly 10 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Cayman is doing 136 km/h against 117 km/h for the 420i. The gap is 0.97 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Cayman crosses the line in 13.64 s versus 15.38 s. The 1.74 s gap represents roughly 69 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Cayman continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 190 km/h versus 163 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Cayman finishes in 24.68 s versus 28.23 s, with a 3.55 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Electronically capped at 240 km/h, the 420i 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 (4.70 kg/hp vs 8.29 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 12.15 seconds. The 1.92 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 Cayman
Audi A5 Avant TFSI quattro S tronic 150 kWAudi A5 AvantAudi A5 Avant

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Cayman wins (5,52 s vs 7,44 s).

Cayman goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,52 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Cayman: 279 hp, ratio 4,70 kg/hp. 420i F32: 184 hp, ratio 8,29 kg/hp.

Cayman: 253 km/h. 420i F32: 238 km/h.