General Motors has unveiled a new fuel cell car, the Sequel, at the North American International Auto Show.

Based on the successful Hy-wire model first unveiled three years ago, the new vehicle is being described as a breakthrough in clean transport technology.

The hi-tech concept vehicle features electronic brakes and steering by motors that help to cut down on energy, as well as hydrogen fuel cells which convert hydrogen into electricity.

The car also boasts an improved range of 300 miles - twice as good as previous models - and can now reach 60 mph in under ten seconds. Indeed, when compared to standard fuel cell models, which typically boast a range of around 200 miles and acceleration of nought-to-60 in around 13 second, the car offers obvious advantages.

The Sequel also differs from some other fuel cell vehicles in that it combines stored hydrogen with oxygen from the surrounding air, rather than requiring an onboard formulator to convert hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen.

Lawrence Burns, GM vice-president, is optimistic about the potential of fuel cells, saying they could "flat out reinvent the automobile".

"Three years ago, our chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner, challenged us to completely rethink the automobile," he went on.

"The AUTOnomy and Hy-wire concepts were the outgrowth of that challenge. But, they were concepts. Today, with Sequel, the vision is real - not yet affordable, but doable."

"GM's goal is to design and validate a fuel cell propulsion system by 2010 that is competitive with current internal combustion systems on durability and performance, and that ultimately can be built at scale affordably."