This golf buggy-meets-Isetta was GM's vision of the future in the '60s

Look at this little guy.

With the one race stripe, slanted front and Thunderbirds-esque model number down the side, it's like the Smart ForTwo was transplanted into the Jetsons-era. Once upon a time though, this little bubble was GM’s vision for the future of urban transport.

It’s called the XP 512E. It’s an all-electric experimental vehicle dating from 1969.

BMW patent infringement intensifies.

Although it steals the aesthetic and iconic front-opening hatch from the iconic BMW Isetta maybe 10 years too late, it’s surprisingly modern in its outlook.

It’s a fully electric car, powered by a 84-volt lead-acid battery back mated to a Delco-Remy motor. For comparison today, the Tesla Model S' battery pack is over 350-volt.

To save weight and extend range, the body was constructed of fibreglass weighing in at a total of 567kg. Much like the Isetta, safety was.. um… non-existent. Or, negatively existent… if that’s possible.

MPH and 'Battery Condition' are all there is for instrumentation.

Speaking of range, the XP 512E travelling at an average speed of 40km/h could buzz along for almost 100km. Kind of impressive for an electric vehicle in 1969.

There was also a petrol version of the car, powered by a 321cc 9kW engine. With a 0-50km/h time of 18 seconds, it wasn’t exactly the ‘performance’ version. You could get almost 250km on a tank though…

Nothin' like taking a pebble to the face at 40km/h.

GM produced a whole range of 'XP' vehicles including a convertible version which looks somehow even less safe, and a bullet-nosed three-wheeler called the 511.

It was powered by a rear-mounted 50-ish kW four-cylinder Opel engine, designed to be for the man of the future who required a freeway commute.

No experimental car range is complete without a 'sporty' version like the 511. Three wheels though? Really...

This thing could reach a terrifying top speed of 129km/h. Think about that for a second, 129km/h in a three-wheeled firbreglass tube. No thanks.

Check out GM's promotional video for the XP range from its heritage collection:

All pictures and video credit to the GM Heritage Centre.

When, if ever, did GM stop being cool? Tell us in the comments below.