FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Artega SE

First unveiled at this year's Geneva motor show, the 'SE' (Sports Electric) is the latest all-electric offering from Delbrück (Germany) based, Mexican owned firm, Artega.

Replacing the Volkswagen-sourced mid-mounted V6 petrol engine found in its GT Sportster, Artega's newest offering uses 192 water-cooled lithium-ion cells powering a pair of rear axle-mounted motors that drive each of the wheels independently.

Claiming a range between 250 and 300 kilometers, Artega SE's aluminium frame keeps weight down to approximately 1400kg of which the battery pack accounts for 310kg.

But with 280kW of power on tap -- and acceleration times from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds -- the Artega SE clocks a top speed of "over 250km/h". Batteries are charged overnight via a standard domestic outlet.

Priced at 150,000 euro the Artega SE is quite expensive, even by Tesla Roadster standards, though its creators say it should have no trouble shifting the 500 units it plans to build each year.   "It is our aspiration to harmonise our responsibility to the environment with our fascination of the automobile," said Artega's chief engineer, Peter Muller.

Production of the Artega SE is due to commence early in 2012.