German luxury carmaker BMW has unveiled the world's fastest hydrogen-powered car, dubbed the H2R, capable of exceeding 300 kilometers per hour.

BMW says the streamlined rocket car sprints from 0 to 100 kilometer/hour in about six seconds and reached a top speed of 302.4 kilometer/hour on BMW's test track at Miramas, France.

The H2R doesn't operate on a fuel cell as most hydrogen-powered vehicles, but rather uses a modified 6-litre, 12-cylinder combustion engine for its propulsion that essentially emits nothing but steam.

Although the outer skin is made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic like a Formula 1 car, BMW isn't considering registering the car for next year's racing circuit.

(CRI.com September 24, 2004)