St. Niklausen, Switzerland - The Swiss car company, Mindset, has revealed a prototype of its E-Motion electric-drive vehicle 18 months after project started.

Designed by former Volkswagen styling chief and Mindset company founder Murat Guenak, the E-Motion sports car will undergo testing on public roads during the next few weeks, according to an announcement.

The prototype, built in France by the car parts supplier Heuliez, features round retro headlamps and 22-inch wheels with ultra-low profile tyres and a coupe-station wagon design.

Built with plastic body panels and a tubular aluminium chassis, the car weighs only 800 kilogrammes. The 70kW/94 hp electric motor is fed by a lithium-ion battery and reaches a top speed of 120 kilometres an hour and acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in six seconds.

Production of 10,000 units annually is scheduled for next year with a sales price of around 50,000 euros (63,000 dollars). The company is currently building up a dealership network in Europe with the spare parts supplier ATU. (dpa)