British sports car engineering specialist Prodrive has developed an electric commuter vehicle it wants to sell in the US.

A deal between Prodrive and Commuter Cars Corporation, of Washington, will see the British company building as many as 100 Tango 600s annually.

The Tango 600, a two-seater in which the passenger sits behind the driver, is powered by two electric motors that can propel the car to a top speed of 118 mph. It has a range of 80 miles. The vehicle is as tall as a conventional car but takes up only half a lane.

Prodrive, of Banbury has completed the first model and is constructing a second.

Commuter Cars is marketing the vehicle as a radical solution to urban traffic congestion. The company says it has several orders.

"We could build the car in the UK, but it is currently aimed at the North American market although we are not ruling out possibilities for Europe in the future," said Ben Sayer, Prodrive marketing manager.

A mass-produced Tango 600 is expected to cost $20,000 (£10,000).