With executives for General Motors Corp. and Segway Inc. holding the opinion that more of two wheels would be a plausible solution to the urban transportation problems the world over, the companies are likely to announce the manufacturing of a prototype two-seat electric vehicle on Tuesday, a day before the press previews for the New York International Auto Show!

The early prortotype of the GM's proposed vehicle with Segway - called PUMA, acronym for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility vehicle - will be showcased at the New York show, which is generally a launch-pad for new luxury vehicles. And, the small GM-Segway electric vehicle is bound to make quite a few heads turn!

The prototype makes use of Segway's distinctive two-wheel balancing technology. Fitted with dual electric motors, the 300-pound vehicle - with a lithium-ion battery to run 35 miles on a single charge - can reach speeds of up to 35 miles-per-hour. The vehicle would be part of a communications network that will allow it to be chiefly self-driven and crash-proof, owing to the use of transponder and GPS technology.

Commenting on the GM's new PUMA vehicle, the company's VP research and development, and strategic planning, Larry Burns noted that the vehicle will take GM in a new direction. Burns said: "The next two months, and really 2009, is all about the reinvention of General Motors."