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Dodge Viper Breaks New Ground Again

6 November 1998

Dodge Viper Breaks New Ground Again - Receives Award for Environmental Excellence

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 5 -- The Dodge Viper RT/10 Roadster
has earned the reputation of a classic, American sports car.  Attention
grabbing, fast, untamed and uncompromising, the Viper has received numerous
awards and titles for its speed and design.  On September 23, 1998 the Viper
added another trophy to its collection, honoring its achievements in the race
to improve the environment.
    The Viper was one of the seven 1998 recipients of Chrysler Corporation's
CHEER (Chrysler Honors Environmental Excellence with Recognition)
awards, which recognize the efforts of those at Chrysler who work to improve
the environment.
    Personnel from Chrysler and its suppliers BASF, Eurotech, Philip Services,
and Magna were recognized for their development of the world's first
application of a chemically recycled polyurethane, containing 25 percent
reclaimed polyol from scrap automobile fascias.
    "The team found a way to significantly improve component recyclability and
use the recycled material in a real world application," said James Carlson,
Director -- Pollution Prevention and Remediation.
    The Viper team introduced this newly recycled material when it designed
and produced the 1998 Viper Roadster's left and right roof rails.  The
recycled plastic is derived from the chemical glycolysis of post-consumer
and/or post-industrial bumper fascias.
    "The most incredible result of this innovative chemical recycling is that
the process produces a raw material equivalent to virgin polyol," said
Carlson.  "Ultimately, that means polyurethane bumper fascias can be
completely recycled."
    Mechanical recycling of these types of fascia materials has been
demonstrated before, however, at most 60 percent of the material could be
recovered.  Only 10 percent of that recovered scrap could be used as a filler
material to create new fascias.  The remaining by-products still had to be
placed in landfills.
    While the filler material created in earlier recycling attempts began to
address core environmental needs, it proved to be an expensive alternative to
various other fillers.  Through glycolysis, the polyurethane is fully
recovered and can be used in new components, such as the Viper roof rails.
    The Detroit recovery plant, operated by Philip Services, can process over
10 million pounds of recycled polyol a year -- material that can now be used
for many automotive urethane applications.
    The Dodge Viper first appeared as a concept car in 1989 and later as a
production vehicle in 1992.  Since 1992, Dodge has sold more than 9,500
Vipers.  The vehicles are manufactured at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in
Detroit, Mich.