The Naturmobile has been described as the ultimate green car to environmentally-friendly motorists.
Drivers eagerly anticipating the new Toyota Prius, which has been billed as the world's more eco-friendly family car, may want to consider an innovative vehicle pioneered in Iran, reports the Guardian.
The one-horse-powered car is literally energised by a four-legged animal, which motors the wheels using a treadmill inside a Perspex box on wheels.
Fusing 19th century travel with a modern need for green transport options, the car seats both driver and passenger in the front of the two-seater vehicle, while the horse plods along in the back.
The animal is aided by 20 gears and its movement recharges the car's battery - when the horse is working well the vehicle can reach speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour.
Iranian engineer Hadi Mirhejazi is behind the product, which he spent two years building, although it is unclear how motorists would get
car insurance for such a forward-thinking motor.
He told the newspaper that he had used "many types of technology to make the horse comfortable".
Meanwhile, the first third-generation Toyota Prius reached London last week. The new car is more fuel-efficient than previous models and received 2,000 preorders - ten per cent of which were through the government's cash for bangers scheme.
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