The vehicle had many drivers scratching their heads, wondering whether it was a bike-car hybrid or a bobsled and whether it was powered by pedals or an energy source.

There were some dubious suggestions that it could be an orange Power Ranger or a new superhero species.

Readers took to the Newcastle Herald Facebook page to solve the mystery.

"It's a velomobile, like a recumbent bike but with a shell cover," Andrew Daley said.

A velomobile is known as a "bicycle-car" and human-powered vehicle, enclosed for aerodynamic advantage and protection from weather and collisions.

Ken Callan said it was "a QuattroVelo - a four wheeled enclosed recumbent pedal cycle".

Greg Workman suggested it could be a Trisled brand, which a company in Victoria sells.

Peter Butler said recumbent bikes were "ideal for all weather conditions" and often seen in Denmark and Holland.

"They can get some speed up with the right set of legs on board," he said.

Rob Oerlemans said: "No mystery. It's a recumbent trike with a full fairing (three-wheel cycle)."