The Porsche Boxster GTS and new BMW Z4 M40i are two of the best two-seat roadsters currently on the market, but which is the fastest in a straight line? The following video answers just that question.
Motorsport Magazine recently had the opportunity to pit the two German sports cars alongside each other for a drag race to see how they perform in the real world.
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On paper, the two are quite evenly matched. Powering the Boxster GTS is a turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four with 361 HP and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque with the available PDK dual-clutch transmission, and 309 lb-ft (420 Nm) with the standard six-speed manual. Porsche claims a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 4.1 seconds for the PDK model.
By comparison, the Z4 M40i uses a larger, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 335 HP in Euro-spec (382 hp for U.S. models).
As for the drag race itself, it doesn’t appear as though the drivers used their cars’ launch control systems. In fact, it seems like the one in the Z4 M40i might have tried to enable the system but failed to, as the rear wheels start to spin before the car gets off the line.
The race was held over a distance of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), with the Porsche storming home in 22.3 seconds while it took the Z4 M40i a full 23.4 seconds. That may not seem like much, but the footage is more than telling.