Australian-Based Carbon Revolution Successfully Opens North American Channels - Three Southern California Master Distributors Join U.S. Team As Suppliers Of World's First "One-Piece" Carbon Fiber Wheel

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Carbon Revolution, the Australian-based manufacturer of the world's first "one-piece" carbon fiber wheel, has successfully launched into North America and has signed on three master distributors in the United States to further support its sales activities. Owners of performance-oriented vehicles now have the opportunity to gain unparalleled weight savings, increased fuel efficiency and greater performance in acceleration, braking, handling and steering from this step change technology. 

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Southern California-based tuner shops BBI Autosport and RSTRADA Limited, as well as national retail and wholesale wheel and tire store, Wheel Warehouse, will be the West Coast distributors offering Carbon Revolution's award-winning CR-9 wheels. These partnerships expand the company's growing global distribution force which now includes partnerships in Japan and Europe.

According to Jake Dingle, Chief Executive Officer for Carbon Revolution, North America has the potential to be the brand's largest marketplace for enthusiast involvement.  "We had a very successful introduction at this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas, where our light weight wheels generated both astonishment and excitement," said Dingle.  "There is a huge drive right now toward light weighting and our wheels can offer a 40-50 percent weight reduction from OEM equivalents made from aluminum." The wheels have been exceeding OEM standards and testing requirements in laboratories and on testing tracks around the world.

Dingle noted that the desire to be on the ground floor of innovation and new technology was the commonality that each of the three new master distributors shared in their commitment to Carbon Revolution.  While each new distributor has its own unique audience, all are highly renowned and competitive within their own disciplines:

• BBI Autosport , a custom tuning shop in Huntington Beach, Calif., that has focused on building, tuning and maintaining Porsches since 2005, has a long history within the Porsche motorsports community.  Owner Betim Berisha has been building racecars for more than a decade and is committed to the artistry, passion and technology that take simple, beautiful design to the intricacies of material science.  He and BBI remain on the cutting edge, and endeavor to also showcase their own artistic efforts within automotive lifestyle charity events such as the recent "Targa Trophy" which enjoys the "best of the best" in exotic rally involvement and camaraderie with their clientele while contributing to worthwhile causes – BBI ran a Porsche GT3 outfitted with CR-9s during the recent event – for more information on BBI view www.bbiautosport.com and/or http://www.facebook.com/BBIAutosport?fref=ts
• RSTRADA Limited , is a Los Angeles-area exotics tuner and customization house, with additional automotive business ventures in Asia. Owner Arling Wang shares the same vision with Carbon Revolution, and believes in the future of carbon fiber technology. Wang has worked with exotics and high performance vehicles since 2002 and brings his global approach and high technology standards to all he creates and rebuilds. As a true car fanatic and multi-exotics owner, Wang only believes the best deserves the best, thus his commitment to Carbon Revolution wheels. RSTRADA, a name that combines both German and Italian language for "racing road," is committed to bring the latest proven technology to their customers. It has built its reputation for innovation and excellence throughout the local and international exotic car communities. For more information on RSTRADA Limited, please view www.rstrada.com and/or http://www.facebook.com/RstradaLimited?fref=ts.
• Wheel Warehouse , located in Anaheim, Calif., began its business in 1979 and was one of the first aftermarket wheel mega stores in Southern California.  Today, according to owner Chris Granger, Wheel Warehouse is one of the largest custom wheel stores in the country, meeting its aspiration of being at the pinnacle of technology and remaining the leading retailer of aftermarket wheels, performance tires and suspension upgrades.  Because Granger is also a devout aviator, he knows the value of carbon fiber as a weight saver, as well as the benefits of safety and strength carbon fiber provides.  According to Granger, Wheel Warehouse's commitment to Carbon Revolution was a simple decision, due to the credibility of its team, their thoroughness in testing, and ability to go beyond mere fashion in wheels and bring something that is beyond 'state-of-the art' to his customers. For more insight on Wheel Warehouse, please view http://www.wheelwarehouse.com and/or http://www.facebook.com/wheelwarehouseonline?fref=ts.

"By adding these three globally recognized distributors to our growing network, we are bringing a unique perspective and education process to the sale of our proprietary 'one-piece' carbon fiber wheels," said Dingle.  "Our growth in North America is contingent upon solid credibility and on continuing to innovate and maintain the leadership position with this technology. We intend to fill that role while offering as much support as we can to our growing family of distribution partners around the world."

CR-9

The first patented Carbon Revolution wheel to enter the marketplace is the CR-9, a full one-piece carbon fiber product, designed with the use of sophisticated computational modeling techniques.  "Throughout our ongoing research and testing, we've found a way to create a continuous fiber structure," said Dingle. 

"With the potential for 40 to 50 percent weight savings compared to conventional wheel technology, our wheels represent a unique step change in ride and handling technology.  Unlike typical chassis modifications that may improve handling but degrade NVH, CR wheels offer no down side -- we simultaneously improve vehicle performance in acceleration, braking, steering and handling while reducing noise and vibration," says Brett Gass, Carbon Revolution's Engineering Director and a recognized vehicle dynamics and ride and handling specialist.

Drawing on accepted automotive and aerospace manufacturing systems and tools to ensure optimal product performance, each wheel is put through rigorous dimensional checking and a full X-Ray CT scan before being coated with an aerospace coating system, resulting in a high grade automotive surface finish. 

The wheels are initially being produced in sizes 19x8.5 (15.4lb) & 19x12 (17.9lb) and are designed to mount directly on Porsche 911, Lamborghini Gallardo and Audi R8 platforms.  A broader range of fitments and sizes are now being developed for the CR-9 style and will be available over the coming months. All parts will be manufactured in Carbon Revolution's Australian based production facility.

New sizes and fitments for various vehicles will be coming from Carbon Revolution early this year, the first of which will include BMW M3.  Porsche center-lock fitments are currently being developed and validated through the company's rigorous testing process. Carbon Revolution's CR-9 wheels are now available through each of the above named Master Distributors, with current orders expected for arrival in early 2013.

About Carbon Revolution

Carbon Revolution, a privately owned Australian-based company and the global leader in carbon fiber wheel technology, is the exclusive designer and manufacturer of the patented "CR-9" – the world's first one-piece carbon fiber wheel. The CR-9 exceeds global OEM performance requirements and industry standards while delivering significant fuel savings and emissions reductions due to weight savings of 40%-50% compared to aluminum wheels.   With support from the Australian Government's Green Car Innovation Fund (GCIF) Carbon Revolution manufactures this environmentally friendly technology through its R&D and Production facility at the Geelong Technology Precinct, within Deakin University near Melbourne, Australia.

The company will soon be producing at a rate of 3,000-6,000 wheels per year, with distribution worldwide and capabilities to reach up to 250,000 units as automation progresses. Carbon Revolution is comprised of leading engineers, scientists and industrialists, as well as R&D specialists from foremost aircraft manufacturers and composite manufacturing companies. For more information, please view www.carbonrev.com. 

For further information, please contact Deb Pollack at 805-320-9248, or [email protected].

For Sales Information, contact Bill Koenig at 310-546-6000 or email [email protected].

SOURCE Carbon Revolution