---

Aprilia Launches Scooter With Orbital Technology

31 May 2000

    PERTH, Australia - The commercial adoption of Orbital technology has passed 
a major milestone with the launch in Noale, Italy yesterday of the Aprilia SR 50 
DITECH scooter.

    Aprilia is Europe's fastest growing motorcycle manufacturer and widely
regarded as a leader in style and technical innovation.  It achieved worldwide
sales of more than 300,000 units last year.

    Aprilia has described its DITECH (Direct Injection Technology) system --
based on Orbital Combustion Process technology -- as "a revolutionary
technology bringing performance, record consumption and ultra-low emissions
together in one engine."

    It added that DITECH was "a giant stride forward in terms of performance
and reduction of fuel consumption and pollution, without compromising
objectives such as simplicity, reliability, safety, character, power and,
above all, riding pleasure".

    Orbital CEO Kim Schlunke said the launch of the SR 50 DITECH scooter was a
very significant development for the entire motorcycle industry.

    "This launch is the culmination of several years of work with Aprilia.  A
new generation of high technology engines has been created that clearly
demonstrates the performance, environmental and commercial benefits of using
Orbital technology.  These engines have the potential to be the dominant
motorcycle powerplant of the next few years because of their ability to meet
increasingly stringent emissions regulations and customer requirements."

    "We anticipate several additional product launches over the next
12 months, including Chinese manufacturer China Hainan Sundiro Motorcycle Co
Ltd, which signed an agreement with Orbital earlier this month."

    "This progress in the motorcycle market follows the technical and
commercial success of Orbital technology in the high performance marine
market, where the injection system is a mature, industrialised product."

    At the launch of the SR 50 DITECH, Aprilia acknowledged the contribution
of its technology partners, namely Orbital, Siemens Automotive, the leading
world producer of injection systems, and Synerject LLC, the system component
supplier "formed by the partnership between these two great names".


    Aprilia stated that the DITECH engine will generate multiple benefits:

    -- Fuel consumption improved by 40%. The DITECH engine achieves 50km per
        litre while traditional technologies achieve, at best, 29km per litre.
        A four stroke 50 cc engine, until now considered the lowest
        consumption engine, can achieve a reduction of up to 30% at most, but
        with considerably lower performance.

    -- More importantly, this improvement is obtained while maintaining
        performance equal or superior to that of current best-in-class
        engines.

    -- Oil consumption reduced by 60%.

    -- Pollutant emissions reduced by 80% compared to a traditional 50cc
        engine.

    -- The DITECH engine exceeds the Euro 1 emission standards by 50% and
        Aprilia is working on a further development which will enable the
        engine to meet the Euro 2 limits proposed for 2002 without requiring a
        catalytic converter or other devices.

    -- Emission of exhaust smoke is eliminated, as is emission of unburnt oil
        particles.

    -- Higher power and exceptional performance, with acceleration over 100
        metres being 1.5 seconds faster than a traditional engine.

    -- Consistently perfect starting at all temperatures.

    -- Longer working life than a traditional 50cc engine.

    -- Complete electronic control providing constant automatic diagnosis of
        all components and real-time warning of malfunction.

    Aprilia selected the SR 50 as the first model to use the DITECH engine
because of its unrivalled reputation and sales record.

    The SR 50 was the world's first sports scooter when launched in 1992, and
Aprilia has sold more than 500,000 since then, making it the favourite scooter
among young enthusiasts from all over Europe.

    Importantly, Aprilia stated that the DITECH system was applicable to its
complete range of scooters.

    Commenting on the stricter emissions limits being adopted in Europe,
Aprilia said the DITECH 2-stroke engine was a superior option to using
4-stroke in 50cc scooters.

    "To use 4-stroke in 50cc scooters could be seen as an easier and more
immediate solution compromised, however, by high engine costs, larger size and
weight and limited performance.  Latest testing indicates that even these
supposedly clean engines will struggle to meet the forthcoming regulations
without even more expensive anti-emission devices".

    The DITECH engine combines the traditional advantages of 2-strokes, such
as simple operation, high specific power, high performance, limited weight and
size and low production costs, whilst overcoming the traditional shortcomings,
namely poor fuel consumption and high exhaust emissions.

    Orbital is a leading international developer of engine technologies using
direct in-cylinder fuel injection and lean-burn systems for enhanced fuel
economy and lower emissions.  The company serves the worldwide automotive,
marine, recreational and motorcycle markets.  Headquartered in Perth, Western
Australia, Orbital stock is traded on the Australian Stock Exchange (OEC), the
New York Stock Exchange (OE) as well as the Berlin (ORE) and Frankfurt (OREA)
Exchanges.