www.ntnews.com.au CARSguide NT NEWS. 3

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NTNE-WS-DA-TE:21-JGE:303LO-R: C-M Y-K• 2.5L high-power common rail turbo diesel with 131kW power • Active Stability Control • Active Traction Control

• Cruise control • 16” alloy wheels • Bluetooth® hands free phone operation • 3 tonne towing capacity • Sports bar

• Dual airbags • Mitsubishi Diamond Advantage including Capped Price Servicing

ABN HOLDERS ONLY.2 EXCLUDES GOVERNMENT AND RENTAL BUYERS. OPTIONAL PREMIUM PAINT $450 EXTRA.

TRITON GL-R 4X4 DRIVE AWAY

1$37,990

See mitsubishi-motors.com.au for further information. Offers at participating Mitsubishi Dealers only. While stocks last. Mitsubishi Motors Australia reserves the right to extend or modify these offers. Offers available on new vehicles ordered and delivered between 1 and 31 July 2012. Business, Fleet sales by special arrangement. †10 year or 160,000km (internal combustion

vehicle)/10 year or 100,000 km (electric vehicles) Powertrain Warranty (whichever occurs first)(non transferable). *5 year or 130,000km (internal combustion vehicle)/5 year or 100,000km (electric vehicles) New Vehicle Factory Warranty (whichever occurs first). Main power (traction) battery warranty (330V) is 5 years or 100,000km (whichever occurs first). Service conditions apply. ^5 year or 130,000km Roadside Assist (whichever occurs first). Service conditions apply. ‡ 4 year or 60,000km Capped Price Servicing (whichever occurs first). Covers only those items specified under the standard ‘Maintenance for Normal Operating Conditions’ schedule detailed in the Service and Warranty Booklet when carried out by an authorised Mitsubishi Dealer. Additional

service/repair items (if required) are at additional cost. Excludes Government and Rental Fleet customers. See your Dealer for full details. 1. Recommended drive away selling price, which includes 12 months registration, CTP insurance, Stamp Duty and Dealer Delivery. 2. Proof of ABN certification required. LMVD34. TDM1572/NT/6x7

Australia’s Best New Car Warrantyincluding 5 Year Roadside Assist^

and Capped Price Servicing.‡

facebook.com/MitsubishiMotorsAustraliaDarwin Mitsubishi 8946 4460Visit buyamitsubishi.com.au or call 1300 13 12 11 today.

MORE GREAT JULY DEALS ACROSS THE MITSUBISHI RANGE.

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Carbon fibre cars planBy PAUL GOVER

AN ambitious Australiancompany wants to help leadthe world into mass-produced carbon fibre cars.

It has already forged alink with Audi — in ad-dition to aerospace con-tracts with Airbus, Lock-heed Martin and NorthropGrumman — and has justset up a new headquartersin Sydney alongside Banks-town airport.

Quickstep Holdings has ahistory with carbon fibreproduction, and has also de-veloped a patented manu-facturing technology calledthe Quickstep Process,which it says is ideal for thecreation of high-finish auto-motive parts.

‘‘We believe that we canprobably do half our busi-ness in automotive, eventu-ally,’’ the managing directorof Quickstep, PhilippeOdouard said.

‘‘Carbon at the presenttime is produced in verysmall quantities. BMW andVolkswagen are fighting toget a chunk of the action in acompany that’s making car-bon fibres.’’

Quickstep has spent morethan $7 million on develop-ment work, and its processis claimed to be quicker andmore cost-effective becauseit does not require the use ofa high-temperature, vac-uum autoclave for parts.

BMW is one of the carbonfibre leaders, having usedcarbon roofs in a series ofits high-performance Mcars, and intends going tolarge-scale production forits upcoming electric i div-ision.

It’s first plug-in batterycar, the i3, hits the road nextyear and will be followed bythe sporty i8 coupe.

Mr Odouard says Quick-step is close to its first majorcontract after work over the

past three to five years withsupport from the Australiangovernment. It has alsoswitched its base from Perthto Sydney.

He says the advantages ofthe Quickstep process are ahigh finish that’s ready forpainting, the speed of pro-duction, and a relativelylow cost. Its carbon fibreparts can also be load bear-ing, not just cosmetic.

Mr Odouard says Quick-step is close to its first major

automotive deal, but willnot be specific on details.

‘‘At this stage we’re look-ing at small quantities,’’ hesaid. But he believes the skyis the limit, with so manycarmakers chasing weightreductions to boost fuel ef-ficiency. Volkswagen andAudi, in particular, were as-sociated with carbon fibrein cars.

‘‘We know our system ismuch cheaper and more ef-fective,’’ he said.

Cyclone Motorcyles, at Winnellie, has a great range of Polaris vehicles Picture: ELISE DERWIN

Love it or yourmoney back: Polaris showswayAUSTRALIAN farmershave enough risk in theirlives: drought, fire, flood,plague, commodity prices,currency fluctuations —you name it, Aussie farmerstake it on the chin.

Farmers are often forcedto spend a good portion oftheir small piece of the pieto limit their risk. If they

can get it, sometimes theyuse insurance, sometimesthey hedge or buy futures.

It’s costly, it’s com-plicated and, frankly, it’sa pain.

Imagine if your fairy god-mother could make yourrisk disappear?

Well, Polaris may not be afairy godmother, but they

have come up with an ideathat can all but eliminaterisk when buying an ATVor Side by Side.

The initiative has beendubbed the ‘‘love it’’ promot-ion. Those who buy aPolaris during July willhave 30 days to try it, and ifthey don’t love it, can returnit for a refund. Conditions

apply. The deal applies toevery new Polaris vehicle,from the Outlaw 50 kids’quad to the big Ranger six-seat diesel. Even Polarismowers are included.

See the Polaris websitefor details or contactthe team at CycloneMotorcycles, at Winnelllie,on 8984 4876.

LEADERS IN INNOVATIONSINCE 2005, Polaris has launched 27 newmodels — and hasfocused on promoting their unique features to Australianfarmers. Polaris has a large range ofmodels, among thevariants are 4WD, 6WD, electric, petrol, diesel, two-seat,three-seat, four-seat and six-seat Rangers.The innovation has continuedwith the ATV lineup also, withproducts such as Sportsman X2, the only ATV on the planetwith a rear tip tray that can hold 181kg, and that converts inseconds into a two-seater.