Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2010 Kicks Off This Weekend in Rio de Janeiro

The 10th Michelin Challenge Bibendum will kick off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, May 30, with the eco competition ending on Thursday, June 3.The Rally will include acceleration, noise and handling tests, aimed at demonstrating the low “well to wheel” carbon emissions for vehicles that use alternative fuels, such as ethanol made from sugar cane, as well as electric vehicles.

Almost 80 vehicles will take part in the 2010 edition of the event, which will include three categories, each with its dedicated itinerary. Cars will drive from Rio de Janeiro to Petropolis north of the city, while trucks and busses will travel from Rio to Resende west of the city and urban vehicles will be driven in the proximity of the Riocenter Convention and Exhibition Center.

“During the five-day event, the 4,500 guests and participants will have the opportunity to talk with each other, meet international sustainable mobility experts, test some of the nearly 150 vehicles entered in the 10th Michelin Challenge Bibendum, take part in theme discussions and the Forum, visit the Technology Exhibition Center and attend press conferences. Michel Rollier, Didier Miraton and Jean-Dominique Senard will hold a press conference at Riocentro on Tuesday, June 1 at 2:30 p.m.,” stated the press release.

The Michelin Group will present three types of innovative products for the 10th Michelin Challenge Bibendum, including future generations of the company’s low fuel consumption tires, the first prototype tires for electric vehicles, which promise to increase vehicle operating range by 10 percent, as well as motorized wheels and the MICHELIN Active Wheel, which help to optimize the design of electric and hybrid vehicles.