Smoky, noisy Trabant set to morph into hybrid

The new look Trabant has an electric engine, giving a range of 160km.

A butt of Cold War-era jokes, the smoky, noisy Trabant car could make a comeback as an environmentally friendly hybrid.

Toy manufacturer Herpa has been showing a concept vehicle, the nT, based on the car that became a symbol of East Germany's lack of progress under communist rule.

Although Herpa bought rights to the Trabant name and shape in 1990, it lacks the resources to build anything more than scale models. But manager Klaus Schindler believes a hybrid Trabant could be an instant hit. He says it could be on the road within three years if the company can attract enough investment.

Meanwhile, the real Trabant has become a cult car and good ones sell for high prices.

After selling several hundred thousand scale-model Trabants, Herpa seized on the idea of a full-sized car. The Trabant nT has moved on from the original's two-stroke engine, instead using an electric motor generating 47kW. This is hooked to a lithium-ion battery pack able to give a range of 160km. Herpa's new design is easily recognisable as a Trabant, but with some updates. The three-door car seats four adults and one child.