Turin, Italy  - Fiat has revealed a nifty city concept car, the Phylla, which can run on solar energy supplementing a battery pack that can also be charged from the electric grid.

Built on an aluminium space frame with a triangular design, the car offers all-round visibility useful for city driving.

The cabin volume is defined by an asymmetrical layout of pillars which contour the triangular glass surfaces that can be replaced by solar panels. The layout with all-round visibility helps especially when parking in typical city driving conditions.

The Phylla, the Greek name for "leaf", alludes to the ability of the leaf to convert sunlight into energy. The concept car measures just 29.95 centimetres with a 2 + 2 seating arrangement. The rear seats fold flat to create a luggage capacity of up to 584 litres. It weighs just 750 kilogrammes.

According to Fiat, the Phylla project was aimed at creating an environmentally friendly urban car capable of achieving a cost per kilometre value 10 times lower than a conventional petrol-powered vehicle. (dpa)