Hybrid vehicles aren’t generally looked at as fast machines capable of break-neck speeds. In truth, hybrids aren’t even marketed as such. Their true calling card is the promise of better fuel economy and improved CO2 emission ratings.

Unless of course you can find a way to marry all three elements the way Infiniti managed to do with the new M35h. Nissan’s luxury division has released a video of their new M35h sedan taking on the equally irrepressible 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid.

Not one to back down from a German challenge for full-on hybrid supremacy, the M35h and the Panamera S Hybrid engaged in a quarter-mile drag race - with surprising results.

Not only did the 360-horsepower M35h complete its time in just 13.4 seconds - impressive for a hybrid! - but it also managed to spank the Panamera S Hybrid by a good second. On top of that, the time is also a marked improvement from their previous record time of 13.9031 seconds, eclipsing the Guinness World Record by a tidy half-a-second.

Check out the video and watch the Infiniti M35h show up the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid.

UPDATE 02/13/12: Infiniti has released a behind-the-scenes look at all the preparation work, setup, and equipment involved in filming the video showing the M35h’s record-breaking acceleration time. It sure looked like it took a lot of complicated equipment just to shoot a video on how the M35h became the fastest accelerating hybrid in the world. Check out how the magic unfolded after the jump!