Connaught Motor Company delays production of hybrid sportscar

Fledgling British automaker Connaught has been trying to build a plant in Wales to assemble its planned Type-D, an intriguing sportscar that will use a hybrid drivetrain. When it was first announced back in 2007 at the AFVI show, Connaught said that its powertrain would consist of a small bore, 300-horsepower, 2.0-liter V10 engine and 162-horsepower electric motor that gets its power from a bank of capacitors capable of providing 48 volts. A lightweight shell would be crafted from carbon fiber and aluminum, allowing for a weight of under 2,000 pounds. All of that tech would lead to a two-seater that's capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in just 6.2 seconds while returning up to 42 miles per gallon, though we're not sure how that number was estimated.

In any case, construction of the Type-D has been delayed due to questions about the sewage and water quality at the site selected for the plant in Wales where the sportscar would be built. If and when the facility is finally up and running, Connaught hopes to assemble 1,000 cars per year. In the meantime, the automaker has been busy converting Ford Transit vans to hybrid power using its proprietary technology.

[Source: PistonHeads]