The goal of this study is to address preliminary design and prototyping of a novel 5-phase segment-type switched reluctance motor (SEG-SRM) with 10/8 pole configuration. The proposed SEG-SRM includes a stator having salient poles and a rotor having segmental steel cores which are embedded in aluminum block. The operation of SEG-SRM depends on exciting two adjacent phases respectively at all times by creating mutual coupling, thus leading less eddy current effects on silicon steel sheets of the stator and better efficiency. A quick design methodology covering all geometrical details of SEGSRM is given. This comprehensive method is useful for initial machine design and eliminates the machines with undesired outputs. Besides, the performance characteristics of the designed SEG-SRM are investigated by finite element method (FEM). Finally, a prototype is manufactured and tested in the laboratory based on computed analytical parameters and the operational outcomes of the developed system are presented by verifying finite element studies. It is completely substantiated that this new preliminary design can be used in applications ranging from low speed to medium speed. The comparative study among simulation and experimental studies seeks to address torque production/prediction versus current variation.