A ‘bicycle’ designed by the University of Liverpool Velocipede Team (ULVT) is to take part in the World Human Power Speed Challenge in Nevada in September 2015.

The team — all members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers — hope that their Arioni Velocipede will beat the 83.13mph record set in 2013 by two Dutch universities (pictured); the Arioni should be ready to race by May 2015.

Team leader Ben Hogan, 22, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the positive response we have received at this early stage of our journey. We are extremely excited about attending the 2015 event and having the opportunity to showcase the UK’s innovation for sustainable transport on an international stage.”

Said to be 40-times more aerodynamic than a Bugatti Veyron, the entirely pedal-powered Arioni weighs less than 25kg and is claimed to have a top speed of 90mph. The rider will be just 5in from the floor and will need to generate over 700W of ‘human power’.

Philippa Oldham, head of transport at the IMechE, said: “This is a fascinating project; the ULVT will be working at the very cutting edge of vehicular engineering. To get to the speeds they want, the team will have to make sure everything is perfect — from the vehicle’s aerodynamics to the size of its wheels.

"It’s an extremely ‘tough ask’ to get a human-powered vehicle to travel at 90mph, but it is possible with the right engineering approach. As a project, it displays the very best of UK engineering innovation, and I wish them all the very best for the record attempt.”