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Connaught Type-D GT - ahead of its time as a ten-cylinder hybrid

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Created on July 20, 2025

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Bonhams

Classic-Gala

Stuart Adams

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Bonhams

Classic-Gala

Stuart Adams

Archiv

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) – kurze Überhänge, viel Nutzraum für ein Coupé

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - mehr als ein 2+2, nämlich ein 2+2+

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - Radstand 2840 mm

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - versprochen wurde ein Wendekreis von 11,1 Metern

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - 1361 mm hoch

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - die Spur vorne beträgt 1595 mm, hinten 1635 mm

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - das Design verantwortete Andy Plumb

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - 1866 m breit ohne Spiegel, 2022 mm mit Spiegeln

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - bulliges Heck, inspiriert von Aston-Martin-Fahrzeugen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - in den Kofferraum passen 368 Liter, in den Tank 73 LIter

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - bullige Form

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - unterwegs im Fahrwerks-Testwagen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - als Spitzengeschwindigkeit für die Kompressor-Version wurden 273 km/h errechnet

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - relativ geringe Seitenneigung in Kurven

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - 0 bis 96 km/h sollte die Kompressorversion in weniger als fünf Sekunden schaffen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - gute Rundumsicht dank grosszügig eingesetzten Glasflächen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - als Gewicht strebte man 950 kg für die Kompressorversion an

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - erinnert optisch ein wenig an den Audi TT

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - wäre mit Hybridantrieb und V10-Motor konkurrenzlos gewesen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - als Benchmark für das Fahrverhalten und den Komfort wurde der Lotus Elan herangezogen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - lässt sich sportlich bewegen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - die Karosserie besteht aus Aluminiumblech

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - der Prototyp ist mit einem Vierzylinder-Ford-Motor ausgerüstet

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - gedrungene Form, um die vier Passagiere samt Gepäck unterbringen zu können

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - aufmerksamkeitsheischende Lackierung/Beklebung

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - Prototypen-Interieur

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - einige Elemente entsprechen durchaus der geplanten Serienversion

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - der Motor macht den Getriebetunnel zwischen Fahrer und Beifahrer breit

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - Fahrer und Beifahrer sitzen recht weit auseinander

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - das linke Instrument entspricht der geplanten Serienversion

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - eindrucksvolle Instrumentenbatterie

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - archaischer Handbremshebel

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - Unterschriften der Macher auf dem Rücksitz

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - mit grossen Scheinwerfern mit 18 Zentimetern Durchmesser für maximale Lichtausbeute mit H4

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - der Markenschriftzug wurde für die verschiedenen Versionen abgewandelt

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - individueller Scheibenwischermechanismus

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - Luftauslass und V10-Schriftzug

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - die Räder für die Kompressorversion mit Markenschriftzug

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - Leichtbau, 73 Liter passen in den Tank

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - 19-Zoll-Räder

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - einzeln integrierte Rückleuchten

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - grosser Markenschriftzug am Heck

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - reisetauglicher Kofferraum mit 368 Litern Fassungsvermögen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - gut zu sehen die Struktur der Kunststoffwanne

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Connaught L2 2.5-Litre Sports-Racing Two-Seater (1949) - als Lot 069 an der Bonhams Goodwood Members Meeting Versteigerung am 18. März 2018

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Connaught A-type (1952) - im Rennen um die Richmond Trophy am Goodwood Revival 2013

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Connaught B Streamliner (1955) - erhielt die Auszeichnung "Best Supersport pre 1970"

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Connaught ALSR (1954) - Serie C - Grand Prix Historique de Monaco 2014

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Connaught ALSR (1954) – "Freddie March Memorial Trophy" beim Goodwood Revival 2022

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Connaught Type-D GT (2002) - Entwicklung des Motors und des Fahrgestells

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Connaught Type-D GT (2005) - der graue Coventry Prototyp, der später auseinandergenommen wurde

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - der blaue Ausstellungswagen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - Interieuraufnahme des Ausstellungswagen

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Connaught Type-D GT (2008) - Marketing-Material

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - mit CRP-Karosserie und Schild "KX06 BUJ"

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - "KX06 BUJ" auf Pressefoto

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - "KX06 BUJ" ganz in Grün

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - Blick auf den Motor bei Fahrzeug "KX06 BUJ"

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - der Fahrwerkstestwagen mit Alukarosserie und Schild "KX06 BUF"

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Connaught Type-D GT (2006) - fotografiert bei Probefahrten im Jahr 2009, mit Tim Bishop am Lenkrad

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Summary

Around a decade and a half ago, a sports coupé was created in the UK that was clearly ahead of its time. With a very compact V10 engine and a lightweight hybrid drive, the Connaught Type-D GT was designed to be economical, comfortable and versatile. And affordable too. The ambitious project failed. This article goes in search of clues and provides driving impressions in one of the prototypes.

This article contains the following chapters

Connaught as inspiration
Big presentation at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Functional and economical
The ten-cylinder
Lightweight coupé
Four cars created
Deviations from the original concept
Factory in Wales and the end
What could have been
At the wheel of the prototype

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Tim Bishop is an engineer with real grit. Questioning and improving technical solutions is in his blood. His career has brought him into contact with many car brands, including Tatra and Jaguar. It is no coincidence that he describes the Heinkel Kabinenroller as one of the most convincing cars ever built. If you ask Tim, cars have to be functional, economical and lightweight. It was therefore certainly no coincidence that Tim and a group of like-minded people were not very enthusiastic about the development in modern automobile construction, which led to ever larger and heavier vehicles. And Tim was convinced that a small team with the tools of the "big boys" should be able to build a pioneering sports car.

Welcome to Zwischengas!