New Orbital-Equipped Boat Makes Its Debut

The range of successful marine and recreation products featuring Orbital Engine Corporation's direct injection technology has further increased with the launch in the United States of the Utopia(TM) 185 sports boat.

The Utopia(TM) 185 was released this month by Bombardier Recreational Products, which already uses Orbital's clean and efficient fuel system on its market-leading personal watercraft.

Bombardier has teamed up with a second Orbital licencee, Mercury Marine, for supply of the engine and jet propulsion system. The Utopia(TM) comes with a 200 hp OptiMax(TM) Jet Drive inboard, incorporating Orbital's direct fuel injection technology. The Utopia(TM) launch follows the recent introduction of the same technology into another sports boat, the Challenger 2000, an existing product now available with OptiMax.

"We are clearly very pleased that Bombardier has selected the direct- injected OptiMax engine for two of their sports boats, especially when it is incorporated on their brand new model -- the Utopia(TM)," Orbital CEO Kim Schlunke said.

"OptiMax engines are clearly established as the premium product in their class. Their performance and reliability is unsurpassed and this is reflected in very strong demand."

"The 200 hp OptiMax model gives consumers a 50-60% increase in fuel economy over a conventional two-stroke marine engine with similar power."

"As well as superior performance and reduced fuel consumption, OptiMax engines cut emissions by 70%," Mr. Schlunke added.

Mercury has been using Orbital's direct injection technology since 1996, and it now has six OptiMax models in the market. With the release of the OptiMax(TM) Jet Drive, Mercury now produce both inboard and outboard engines incorporating Orbital's direct fuel injection technology. Orbital deliveries of fuel systems for OptiMax engines rose by approximately 40% in the year to June 2000.

Bombardier is a world-leading manufacturer of marine and recreational craft, including the Sea-Doo GTX DI and Sea-Doo RX DI personal watercraft, which incorporate Orbital technology. The RX DI model was named Watercraft of the Year last year by Watercraft World Magazine. These two new products bring to four the number of Bombardier products using Orbital technology.

Mr. Schlunke said Bombardier is reporting a great deal of interest from boat dealers and the public since launching the Utopia 185, which tours National Boat Shows around the United States in the New Year.

Further details of the Utopia(TM) 185 and Challenger 2000 models can be found at the Web site http://www.sea-doo.com .

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.

Posted: 12-21-2000