This retro oddity is the Imperia GP, recently given its world premiere in - of all places - Belgium.
With the buzz surrounding the impending Geneva motor show, we'll admit that the Belgian version rather slipped our notice, but the Brussels show, held in January, did present the world with something interesting in the form of this home-grown (from a Belgian perspective) hybrid sports car.
A pre-production prototype that has been the product of three years of development, the Imperia GP is powered by a 204bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (which sounds like a Peugeot-Citroen job to us) and a 132bhp electric motor.
Running on electric juice only, the GP is capable of a range of around 70km, and can hit 62mph from rest in 6.0secs. With the aid of good ol' internal combustion, that drops to 4.0secs.
The reborn Imperia (the company used to make stuff like the car pictured right in the first half of the 20th century) is set to go on sale this year, with a 90,000 euro price tag (£76k).
Engine
Type Petrol
Layout 4 in line turbo
Displacement 1.6 l
Maximum torque 260 Nm
Maximum power 156 kW
Gearbox 5 speed
Motor
Type Induction
Maximum torque 300 Nm
Maximum power 100 kW
Batteries
Type Li-Polymer
Layout 1P96S
Nominal voltage 355 V
Capacity 31 A.h
Range on batteries > 70 km
Battery charger
Maximum power 3 kW
Net plug 220 V 16 A
Charging time 85% in 4h 100% in 5h
Chassis Steel spaceframe including safety cage
Body Composite
Suspensions Double wishbones
Rims 18 inches alloy