The Pininfarina Nido EV electric town car has been launched, as part of the Italian design firm's 80th anniversary celebrations.
The Nido EV is a two-seat, rear-engined city car. It is 215mm longer and 123mm wider a than a Smart, but its overall height is 37mm lower. It weighs around 900kg.
See the Pininfarina Nido EV pictures
It is powered by a 40bhp electric motor which delivers 92lb ft of torque. It has a range of 87 miles, top speed of 75mph, 0-37mph time of 6.7sec and can be recharged in eight hours.
Power is stored in a Zebra Z5 Ni-NaCl battery, which Pininfarina says is notable for containing no polluting chemicals and being 100 per cent recyclable.
The prototype is built around a tubular steel frame, but the production model will have an aluminium spaceframe.
The car unveiled is the first running prototype from the "Nido Development Programme", a modular platform from which new types of hybrid and electric cars will be developed.
The Nido structure is designed to adapt to electric, hybrid, two-seater, 2+2 seater and light van use.
Pininfarina says it will next display two four-seat, front-engined versions of the car in due course.
