Published September 21, 2011
Infiniti says it has set the record for the world's fastest-accelerating production full hybrid. On August 23, at the Britain's Santa Pod Raceway, CAR Magazine associate editor Chris Pollard tested the Infiniti M35 hybrid in front of a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records, accelerating from a stop to drive a quarter mile. After multiple runs, the M35h averaged a time of 13.9031 seconds, with the fastest run coming in just a hair better, at 13.8960 seconds.
The new record (which doesn't best a standing Guinness mark but rather establishes the original bar in the hybrid acceleration category,) was attempted to coincide with the release of the M35h in the U.K. The 5-seat luxury hybrid debuted in North America earlier this year, at a starting cost of $53,700. The car produces up to 360 combined horsepower between its gas engine and electric motor, and can accelerate from 0-62 in just 5.5 seconds. To put that in perspective, the Toyota Prius achieves 0-62 in 10.7 seconds—nearly twice the M35h's time.
“You could feel the instant torque of the electric motor away from standstill – the car just leapt off the line,” remarked Pollard in an Infiniti press release. “But what impressed most was the Infiniti M's duality of purpose: it might be quick, but it's also comfy and very easy to drive.”
At an combined EPA-rated 29 mpg, the M35 hybrid's appeal comes not from its ability to test the limits of overall sedan fuel economy, but its ability to match the performance of its luxury sedan competitors while delivering vastly superior efficiency. By comparison, the non-hybrid Infiniti M base model and competing Audi A6 sedan also achieve 5.5-second 0-62 times, but carry overall fuel economy ratings of just 21 mpg and 19 mpg, respectively. The M35h starts at a $6,000 hybrid premium over the M37.
Other hybrid records tracked by the Guinness Book include "best selling hybrid car"—which of course belongs to the Toyota Prius—and "largest parade of hybrid cars," a record set earlier this year at the Green Drive Expo in Madison, Wisc.
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