The world's car makers have designed and built a number of low mpg vehicles over the last few years, but very few of them have breached the 100mpg mark.

However, a new project between oil supermajor Shell and McLaren F1 engineers Gordon Murray and Osamu Goto aims to create such a car.

'Project M' will be a small city runabout that will use an ultra-efficient petrol engine, instead of either an electric or hybrid powertrain – both of which are commonly found in highly fuel-efficient cars.

Unveiling of the new machine will take place in November, although Shell says it has no intention of taking the machine into production.

Project M is all about "maximising personal mobility while minimising energy use in the world’s ever-more congested cities", according to the Anglo-Dutch oil giant.

While Murray is perhaps best known for his work on the 243mph F1 supercar, he has long been interested in more modest, fuel-efficient machines. Indeed, in 2010 Murray developed the T.25 – a car similar in design to Project M.

The T.25 averaged 97mpg in the 2010 London-Brighton Future Car Challenge, yet none of the world's carmakers were interested in building it.

While the T.25 may have provided inspiration for the new Shell city car, the designers insist Project M will be entirely re-thought.

The partnership between Shell, Murray and Goto has tasted success before. The trio were behind the McLaren-Honda cars that enjoyed multiple Formula 1 victories in the 80s and 90s.

It remains to be seen if any of the world’s big car makers will show more of an interest in Project M than they did in the T.25.

You can view a concept drawing of the car below.