Infiniti claims title of “world's fastest hybrid sedan”
Nissan's premium brand sticks it to Porsche with match-race video between Panamera S Hybrid and Infiniti M35hNissan and Porsche have a bit of a history of taunting each other and engaging in one-upmanship. After all, who can forget all the hoopla made about the claimed Nurburgring lap time of the GT-R?.
We’ve got a feeling things could again get a tad fiery as Nissan’s upmarket Infiniti brand has just released a video clip in which its M35h smokes a Porsche Panamera S Hybrid in a head-to-head drag race, and the former goes on to claim its offering is the world’s fastest full-hybrid sedan.
Teased online last week, the full 90-second spot opens on the 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid, which is left trailing in the wheeltracks of the 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid, “affirming the thrill of the luxury environmentally-friendly vehicle”.
“‘The Duel’ is an exciting way to remind everyone that the Infiniti M Hybrid is the world’s fastest accelerating full-hybrid with 360 horsepower (269kW) and 32 miles per gallon (7.3L/100km),” said Infiniti Americas vice president Ben Poore.
The company says inspiration for the video originated when the M Hybrid made it into the Guinness World Records as the world’s fastest accelerating full-hybrid car last year. At the time, the petrol-electric luxury performance sedan covered the standing quarter mile (400m) in 13.9031 seconds (average of all runs).
As for the head-to-head match with the Panamera, Infiniti says it secured AMCI Testing, a third-party testing firm, to substantiate the speed of both vehicles and certified that the Infiniti M Hybrid actually was faster in its tests, covering the quarter mile faster in 13.41 seconds and accelerating from 0-160km/h in 11.54 seconds.
Meanwhile, testing by America’s Motor Trend magazine has yielded a 5.1sec 0-60mph (0-96km/h) split, so the Infiniti is clearly no sluggard.
As for fuel economy figures, the EPA estimates the M35h consumes 8.7L/100km in the city and 7.3L/100km on the highway, for a combined rating of 8.1L/100km.
The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 10.7L/100km in the city and 7.8L/100km on the highway for an overall consumption figure of 9.4L/100km.
So, at this stage, it appears bragging rights are well and truly with Infiniti. But we’re quite sure we haven’t heard the end of this yet…
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
