2012 Infiniti M Hybrid sets Guinness World Record for fastest hybrid car
The Infiniti M Hybrid has officially become the world’s fastest accelerating hybrid. How official? Guinness World Record official. Driven by journalist Tim Pollard and overseen by Guinness World Records, the 360-horsepower gas/electric Infiniti M Hybrid covered the standing quarter mile in 13.9031 seconds (an average of all runs).
The car used during the test was a standard production model. The tests were recorded on Aug. 23, 2011 at the UK Santa Pod Raceway, home of the FIA European Drag Racing Championships.
Infiniti says that performance of the Infiniti M puts it on par with performance heroes like the 1982 Lamborghini Countach1 and within a few tenths of some Porsches, Ferraris and Aston Martins.
“The Infiniti M35h proves that hybrids can be fast as well as frugal,” said Tim Pollard, associate editor of the UK’s CAR Magazine. “At Santa Pod you could feel the instant torque of the electric motor away from standstill – the car just leapt off the line. I did try changing gears manually, but it was fastest left in automatic. That was when we achieved the fastest single run of 13.8960 seconds. 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. It felt like it could do these runs all week long.”
Refresher: The Infiniti M35 Hybrid will be powered by a single electric-motor/twin-clutch arrangement, mated to a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6. Together the system makes 360-hp. The first-clutch is installed between the V6 engine and the electric motor, which Infiniti says allows for a more responsive drive. Infiniti said that the M35 Hybrid, which will carry a lithium-ion battery pack, has the ability to run solely on electric-power under certain driving conditions. 0 to 62 mph comes in 5.5 seconds with an EPA-rated fuel-economy of 27/32 mpg (city/highway).
– By: Omar Rana