Connaught Hybrid Sports Car Chooses Avon ZZ3 Tyres
20 Sep 06
Emily Henry
Contributing writer
After a 45-year absence, British motor company
Connaught has returned to the scene with the world's
first hybrid sports car… and announced the Avon ZZ3 as
its official tyre.
A famous British Formula One constructor in the 1950's,
Connaught participated in 18 grand prix with their A, B
and C type Grand Prix cars. Although Connaught closed in
1957 due to lack of funding, it was revived in 2002 to
produce the Type D Syracuse and the Type D-H... the
world's first sports hybrid.
The Avon ZZ3 tyre has been chosen as the perfect
compliment to Connaught's sports coupe due to its
renowned handling in diverse conditions. The silica and
carbon tread compound of the Avon ZZ3 optimises grip,
and the directional diagonal arteries discharge water
from the contact area… helping to prevent aquaplaning in
wet conditions. It is one of the most popular tyres in
the Avon range.
Having beaten competitors in the race to develop a high
performance and energy efficient sports car, the
Connaught Type D-H utilizes the revolutionary V10 hybrid
engine. The V10 engine includes a 48V electric motor
that assists the petrol engine, improving fuel economy
without negotiating performance. The system, created by
Tim Bishop and Tony Martindale, has received almost half
a million pounds of funding from the Energy Saving
Trust.
The semi-electric engine combined with its
ultra-lightweight construction generates a level of fuel
efficiency that is on par with the targets set for 2010
under the Kyoto Protocol. Combined with the handling
efficiency and further fuel economy provided by the Avon
ZZ3 tyres, the hybrid Connaught will be a revolutionary
sports car for its consistency with the Kyoto target.
The Vehicle Emissions Laboratory (VEL) tested the
revolutionary Connaught system and confirmed that CO2
emissions were decreased by 15% compared to the
emissions of a standard petrol engine.
At the Climate Change conference held in Scotland in
July this year, Connaught was selected by the Energy
Saving Trust to represent sustainable vehicle
technology. The Energy Saving Trust then invested half a
million pounds for the development of the hybrid and
Connaught's ground-breaking technology now has 17
pending patents.
Despite the stigma of the hybrid as a slow and
insufficient engine for sports cars, which has held back
the expansion of production, the Type D-H itself boasts
outstanding performance specifications. Not only has
interior space not been compromised by the semi-electric
engine, the Type D-H having a four-seater layout, but
the car also manages a cool 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds
and achieves a top speed of 140 mph. And choosing the
Avon ZZ3 for its official tyre can only help bolster the
Avon reputation.
[http://www.connaughtmotorco.com/type_d.html]
[http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/06/connaught_v10_h.html]
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