The Connaught marque, a grand prix winner in the 1950s, has been revived with the development
of the Connaught Type D, a high performance British sports coupe, packaged for the demands of everyday motoring. Connaught is unique in that the inspiration for our cars derives from a search for innovation, a desire to look at things differently and engineer breakthrough solutions. The Connaught Type-D looks different because it is different in so many ways. Big power now. Hybrid to come.
The first 100 cars off the production line will be the V10 powered Connaught Type-D GT Syracuse. These will be followed by the petrol/electric powered Connaught Type-D h, offering the unique combination of supercar performance and hybrid economy. Connaught Engineering, often referred to simply as Connaught, was a Formula One and sports car constructor from Britain. Their cars participated in 18 grands Prix, entering a total of 52 races with their A, B, and C Type Grand Prix Cars. They achieved 1 podium and scored 17 championship points. The name Connaught is a pun on Continental Autos, the garage in Send, Surrey, which specialised in sales and repair of european sports cars such as Bugatti, and where the cars were built.
In addition they built a small number of road going sports cars developed on the Lea Francis Sports Chassis, which achieved considerable competition success. These were of types L2 and L3, and three examples of the stark Cycle Winged L3/SR Sports Racer. Two sports cars, based on the A Type Formula 2 cars, the ALSRs were also built for competition work. In 1962, Jack Fairman attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in a Connaught race car, but failed to find the necessary speed to make the field. In 2004, the Connaught name was revived by Connaught Motor Company for their Type D Syracuse and Type D-H hybrid supercars.
Connaught Engineering is the research and development wing of the Connaught Company. As well as the R&D on the Connaught Type-D car they have been responsible for developing a new type of so-called ‘mild hybrid’ technology that can be simply and inexpensively installed in commercial vehicles. This supercapacitor based device promises a 25% cut in fuel consumption with a similar reduction in CO2 emissions. Type-D hybrid on the way V10 petrol electric engine, Capable of 42mpg, 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds, Top speed around 150mph, Type-D GT Syracuse, 2 + 2 with room to spare, In house designed 2 litre V10, 300bhp delivers 0-60mph in sub 5 seconds, Every car built to individual specification, Orders now being taken, First customer cars mid 2008.
The 2nd April 2007 heralded a whole new phase in the development of The Connaught Motor Company with an exciting move to the brand new Technium Performance Engineering centre near Llanelli in South Wales. The move brings a £12 million investment to Wales with the promise of some 200 new jobs as plans to build a purpose designed 60,000 sq ft production facility come on line.
