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BMW M340i xDrive Porsche Taycan Turbo S Drag Racing Stage 2, Quiet Victory Ensues

Posted on by angelo
BMW M340i xDrive Porsche Taycan Turbo S Drag Racing Stage 2, Quiet Victory Ensues

BMW M340i xDrive Porsche Taycan Turbo S Drag Racing Stage 2, Quiet Victory Ensues
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Photo: CSL AutoTime on YouTube / edited

Thailand’s CSL AutoTime returns with a rather thrilling quarter-mile showdown between a punchy internal combustion engine sedan and a punchier electric sedan. Enter the pre-facelift M340i xDrive and the pre-facelift Taycan Turbo S, two vehicles that couldn’t be more different.

A valued member of the G20 series, the M340i xDrive sits between the 330e plug-in hybrid and the M3. Regarding prices, of course. Entirely original, the M Performance model develops a very respectable power of 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm). As for the 387 ponies that appear in the video after the presentation of the cars, these ponies would be metric because Thailand has used the metric system since 1923.

The white-painted Bimmer isn’t your usual M340i xDrive, as this is a Level 2 thriller. CSL AutoTime host Tang claims it makes 560 hp and 900 Nm, or 552 horsepower and a jaw-dropping 664 pound-feet of torque. Truly impressive numbers for a 3.0-liter turbocharged I6, especially when compared to the 565 horsepower and 467 pound-feet (633 Nm) of the larger twin-turbocharged V6 engine in the 2024 Nissan GT-R.

Tipping the scales at 1,670 kilograms or 3,682 pounds, the modified BMW uses a ZF-sourced torque converter automatic. The significantly heavier Porsche Taycan Turbo S is also equipped with a two-speed gearbox. The zero-emission sedan’s rear-axle drivetrain is a two-speed affair for improved acceleration in first, better range in second, and a higher top speed to boot.

When equipped with summer tires, the Porker reaches 162 miles per hour (261 kilometers per hour). Of course, there’s a faster Taycan in the form of the 2025 model year Turbo GT: 180 mph (290 km/h) out of the box or 190 (305) when equipped with the optional Weissach Package.

Porsche Taycan Turbo S Drag Races Stage 2 BMW M340i xDrive

Photo: CSL AutoTime on YouTube

The same applies to the 3er. Due to a Gentlemen’s Agreement, German automakers electronically limit their production vehicles to 250 clicks or 155 miles per hour. There is no M Driver package available for the M340i xDrive, only for the M3 and company. Speaking of gentlemen’s deals, Japanese automakers limit JDM vehicles to 180 clicks or 112 miles per hour. The R35’s built-in satellite navigation system knows when you’re on a track in Japan, automatically switching off the electronic nanny.

Back to the Porsche, the pre-facelift Taycan Turbo S has a clear advantage in terms of horsepower and torque, and how quickly that power and torque are delivered. Either way, 2,370 kilograms or 5,225 pounds of curb weight is way more than the BMW’s claimed weight.

During three drag races on a dusty track, Tang managed to squeeze a 10.94-second quarter out of the Taycan Turbo S, with the quarter-mile trap speed being 204 kilometers per hour (127 miles per hour). . His buddy performed well in the combustion-engined challenger, posting a best of 11.24 seconds at 199 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour). Had they been presented with a longer track and BMW’s limiter disabled, the modified M340i xDrive would have dragged the Taycan Turbo S to top speed.

But if it was the Taycan Turbo GT, not so much, because the 2025 model year M3 can’t do better than 180 miles per hour (290 kilometers per hour) with the M Driver’s Package. The big question is: would you prefer a faster 3 Series to a more luxurious electric sedan from Porsche?

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