Unveiled sports car is tribute to region

A new concept sports car to be manufactured from components made in and around the West Midlands was being launched in India today.

The Birmingham Bolt could see firms in Wolverhampton and Sandwell on board when it reaches the production stage.

It has been created by inward investment body Business Birmingham to show the potential in the region and highlights its automotive and manufacturing strengths.

Companies from the local supply chain said to be capable of taking the Bolt from concept to reality include Goodyear for its tyres, ZF Lemforder of Wednesbury for drive train and Shakespeare Forgings of Cradley Heath for the engine block.

It is hoped the Bolt will also help drum up interest in joint ventures between UK and Indian businesses. It was unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo and it is claimed it could make production in under 18 months.

Business Birmingham's transport technologies and manufacturing investment manager Martyn Mangan, said: "The majority of The Bolt's body, chassis, interior and underlying componentry could be supplied locally – seeing this design or one very much like it accelerate from the drawing board and onto roads in under 18 months using our existing research, development and manufacturing base."

Weight is predicted to be 1,450kg through use of a combination of composite materials and aluminium for the chassis and body panels. It would be powered by a hybrid 34-kW electric motor and a 3.5-litre V6 and have a six-speed semi-automatic transmission. It would do zero to 62mph in 4.2sec and have a top speed over 185mph.

Mr Mangan said the Bolt was a high performance, premium concept vehicle design that incorporated advanced engineering capability and parts sourced almost exclusively in the Birmingham area.