Does the Infiniti M Hybrid accelerate faster than the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid?

The dubious honour of being the hybrid that accelerates the fastest from 0 to 100 km/h or from 0 to 400 metres could not be left vacant, given the recent launch of two high-profile manufacturers. On one side we have the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid and on the other the Infiniti M35h. Where a hybrid once meant very moderate consumption and sluggishness, we now see an attempt at a world acceleration record for a hybrid and even a contest between the M35h and the Panamera hybrid to see which of the two accelerates faster.

The M35h really does have something to boast about, since it delivers almost 370 CV with the help of the electric motor. Driven normally, the M35h is capable of reaching 100 km/h using its electric motor alone. If you press the accelerator hard for acceleration, the V6 engine also comes into action.

The Panamera can also run on electricity alone, up to 85 km/h. It is just as quick as the Infiniti in acceleration, the theoretical difference between them being half a second in favour of the Japanese car: 5.5 seconds for the M35h and 6 seconds for the Panamera. And although the Panamera is a real tank (it weighs over 2,000 kilos), it has the mitigating factor of being a Porsche, a brand that gets forgiven for even having invented the Panamera.

Infiniti says Guinness has certified the M35h’s record in August 2011, something we have not been able to verify conclusively, since there is no entry in Guinness that certifies it. But then again, there is no need to take it too seriously, as it is simply a representation of a head-to-head between the Panamera and the M35h and, in the end, an advert for Infiniti.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0TDYrTGyRfw#at=63

Via CarBuzz

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackPorsche Panamera9 versions · from 134,887 €