Sun-powered 5-seater car wows crowd at solar challenge

Adelaide

A FUTURISTIC Dutch family car that not only uses the sun as power but supplies energy back to the grid was hailed as "the future" on Sunday as the World Solar Challenge wrapped up.

The innovative bi-annual contest, first run in 1987, began in Darwin a week ago with 41 vehicles setting off on a 3,000 km trip through the heart of Australia to Adelaide.