Porsche Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus (PB) J1.1 vs BMW 230i F22: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus (PB) hits 100 km/h in 3.95 s versus 5.51 s for the 230i. The instant torque of 650 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus (PB) leads by 1.56 s and sits roughly 12 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus (PB) is doing 155 km/h against 133 km/h for the 230i. The gap is 1.15 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus (PB) crosses the line in 12.01 s versus 13.87 s. The 1.86 s gap represents roughly 82 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus (PB) continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 218 km/h versus 184 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus (PB) finishes in 21.62 s versus 25.28 s, with a 3.66 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h), preventing any comeback.

Both rivals share the same electronic speed cap: the Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus (PB) and the 230i are governed to 249 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h. At that speed, standard-fit tyres approach their safety threshold - an industrial ceiling common to most electric vehicles in this segment. Neither car shows its true aerodynamic potential in this duel.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.62 seconds. The 1.56 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.