Totally unaffected by the escalating petrol prices, the Melbourne based Aurora 101 solar car will join with Greenfleet as the Australian representatives at the Michelin 'Challenge Bibendum' event in Paris 8-12 June 2006.

Michelin will stage this stunning showcase event where the world's most advanced technology cars are on show to a select gathering of just 500 international media personnel. At 'Challenge Bibendum' the new breed of fuel efficient technologies such as hybrid, hydrogen, solar and electric will be put through their paces in a variety of performance tests and demonstrations.

About 150 vehicles are expected including motorcycles, cars and buses. One solar car proudly carrying the Australian flag, the Melbourne based Aurora 101 will represent the most fuel efficient transport available.

Aurora joins Greenfleet at the 2006 Challenge Bibendum as Australia's sole representatives. The Aurora 101 solar car was a hit at the last Challenge Bibendum event at Shanghai's Formula 1 track late in 2004. It has been invited back to demonstrate its remarkable ability to run with no fuel other than sunshine and to produce no emissions. Aurora 101 will lead the rally event of Challenge Bibendum on Paris streets with a public demonstration of the new wave of automotive technologies within Paris itself at the Eiffel Tower.

Aurora demonstrates four remarkable technologies from Australia; the world's best solar power point trackers from AERL, super efficient motor controllers from Tritium, a stunningly efficient wheel-motor [98.4%] from CSIRO and advanced telemetry from MoTeC.

Aurora needs just 1700 watts to cruise at 100 km/h. This is due also to the extremely low rolling resistance of its specially made Michelin solar car tyres and its superb aerodynamics.

As a warm up Aurora 101 is entered in an extraordinary solar car rally from Girona in Spain to Toulouse in France crossing the Pyrenees. Some extremely steep climbs are expected as seen in special stages of the Tour de France bike race. This takes place 1-4 June 2006.

Aurora team members from Victoria, South Australia and the UK will rendezvous in northern Spain on 30 May for this European challenge. Events in another 3 overseas locations will round out Aurora's schedule for 2006.

Since August Aurora 101 has covered over 6000 kilometres in 4 major races or endurance events including the Dream Cup in Japan, The World Solar Challenge in Australia, a 24 hour world record run in Victoria and a record Melbourne to Sydney run.

For more information, contact David Fewchuk 0411 250 464
High resolution images and further background on Aurora available on the Aurora web site.