DETROIT (CNN) -- On those days when icicles hang like frigid whiskers from the grille of your car, when snow is piled up on the once shiny finish, just the idea of getting into an ice-cold vehicle and waiting for the heater to crank up is enough to make even the heartiest driver shiver.

But now, a new heating system called Rapid Heat can take the chill off. Just turn the key and within 10 seconds, the temperature begins to rise rapidly. Within 20 seconds, it can be a toasty 86 degrees inside.

"The Rapid Heat system is really based on the principle of converting waste heat into usable heat," explains Fred Nader of Centaur Thermal Systems, which makes the device.

A little larger than a muffler, Rapid Heat mounts under a vehicle. While the car or truck is running, waste heat is collected and stored in a cylinder. The next time the engine starts, the hot coolant from the cylinder is exchanged for the cold coolant in the engine, causing it to warm up quickly.

"Imagine if you had a Thermos bottle that you could put hot coffee in Friday afternoon and Monday morning have piping hot coffee waiting for you," Nader explains.

One bonus is that allowing engines to heat up more quickly actually reduces pollution, according to the manufacturer.

Rapid Heat is currently available in Europe and on several Ford vehicles in North America. The cost is $500 to $700, but Centaur says the price will drop if sales heat up.

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