A revolutionary concept in vehicle design and engineering was announced this morning by a new entrant to motor manufacturing, the Connaught Motor Company. It has revealed its first project, the Type-D sports coupé.

Featuring the first ever V10 hybrid engine, theType-D, its makers claim, beats mainstream manufacturers in the race to produce a high performance energy-efficient sports car. The coupé reaches 140mph, does 0-60mph in 6.2s and 42mpg, while still complying with ultra-low emissions targets set for 2010.

The brainchild of two ex-Jaguar consultant engineers, Tim Bishop and Tony Martindale, the Connaught Type-D has to date received almost half a million pounds worth of funding from the Energy Saving Trust and has no less than 17 patents pending on its ground-breaking technology.

The car was previewed at Goodwood's Revival meeting. Connaught is the first virtual car company. It designs the car and manages the project, but out-sources the manufacturing to Derby-based partners EPM Technology, thereby ensuring relatively low start-up investment costs.

The Type-D will be priced from around £35,000.

"Our aim has been to build a car for the future while keeping the design and technology relatively simple," said Tim Bishop, vehicle engineering director. "And to establish close links with our technology partners EPM Technology for the assembly and Coventry University on the styling side. We have met all our own development targets and are confident to gain five-star EuroNCAP crash test results and maximum score for pedestrian safety."

The directors of Connaught are now seeking further investment to raise the £5m required to take the project through to production in May 2006.