Moerfelden, Germany  - Volkswagen-owned Seat is the latest manufacturer to announce plans for an eco-friendly, diesel-electric hybrid.

The Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive is based on the Spanish marque's Leon saloon and features the same powertrain as the recently unveiled prototype VW Golf TwinDrive which mates a 1.9-litre, 105 horsepower common rail diesel engine to a 35-kilowatt electric motor.

Using a lithium-ion batery pack in the boot of the five-door hatchback for storage, the system provide up to 50 kilometres of electric driving and also kicks in at low speeds and during acceleration. Seat says it aims to start selling a plug-in hybrid by 2014 at the latest.

The Leon hybrid's batteries are rechargable using mains electricity. Depending on the combination of power used, Seat says the hybrid can return fuel consumption between zero and 4.5 litre per 100 kilometres. VW regards TwinDrive as the first stage towards developing a purely electric car. (dpa)