T.27: World's most efficient electric car?

Good news, nature-fondlers: Gordon Murray -- the designer responsible for such supercars as the McLaren F1 and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, has teamed up with Zytek Automotive Design to help develop the T.27 -- the world's most fuel-efficient electric vehicle.

A total of four prototypes will be built before the project's February 2011 deadline. It would seem the T.27 is based on Murray's hideous petrol-powered T.25 (did this guy really design the McLaren F1?), so there's a good chance the T.27 could also end up being the world's ugliest vehicle -- electric or otherwise.

Each prototype T.27 will be created using the same 'iStream' manufacturing process used by the T.25. It's therefore expected that the manufacture of the T.27 will have low energy requirements and minimise the environmental impact of the materials and energy used therein.

Upon completion, the prototypes will, hopefully, put the consortium in the position where it can "further explore the possibility of scaling up and building a manufacturing facility, with the ultimate goal of making this affordable, fun and environmentally friendly car widely available on the open market."

If that all seems a little pie-in-the-sky, fret not -- the project has already received £9m of funding from Zytek Automotive, Gordon Murray Design and the Technology Strategy Board.

Good luck to 'em, we say. We just hope someone bothers to tell them not to use the T.25 for design inspiration. If not, we're all off to buy a G-Wiz.