Tim Bishop and Tony Martindale: Connaught Motor Company

A "green" sports car which runs on petrol and electricity will proudly bear the Coventry-made stamp.

Tim Bishop and Tony Martindale had just unveiled details of their revolutionary Connaught Type-D coupe, which will be powered so that it releases the lowest possible pollutants.

The two ex-Jaguar engineers working from a design and prototype vehicle produced at Coventry University.

They have bought the rights to use the famous Connaught marque - which in 1955 was the first British Formula One racing car to win a Grand Prix - and for the past few years have been working with a small team in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Now they have revealed their prototype vehicle, built by engineering lecturers and graduates at Coventry University, and have linked up with Derby-based company EPM Technology with a view to starting production in Coventry by May, 2006.

The project has already won the backing of the Energy Saving Trust which has ploughed in �461,000. EPM boss Graham Mulholland is also in talks with Advantage West Midlands about opening a production site in Coventry late next year.

Mr Mulholland, who has four other Midlands factories, said yesterday: "We hope to open a manufacturing base in Coventry because of its carmaking tradition." The Type-D coupe, is the original brain-child of Tim Bishop, 51, who first joined