Dana Corporation to Support 2003 Dodge Viper With High-Performance, Advanced Traction Technologies

TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 8 -- Dana Corporation announced today that it has been selected to supply advanced traction technologies -- including a newly designed center section and advanced differential -- for DaimlerChrysler's upcoming 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 to be launched in July 2002.

Dana Chairman and CEO Joe Magliochetti said, ``Dana's presence on this high-performance program further demonstrates our commitment to providing innovative technologies that enhance handling and performance characteristics for our customers' advanced passenger car and truck platforms.''

John Fernandez, Director of DaimlerChysler's Performance Vehicle Operations (PVO), said, ``We are tremendously excited that Dana has chosen to play such a key role in improving the performance of a car that is recognized as the ultimate American sports car. Our Viper engineering group has spent countless hours working side-by-side with the Dana folks in achieving the optimum performance of the hydra-mechanical Hydra-Lok(TM) differential.''

Added Fernandez, ``The Dana Hydra-Lok differential has helped improve handling in high-speed turns and also aided in improving our test track lap times by a full 6.5 seconds, a very significant improvement.''

The Hydra-Lok limited-slip differential is an intelligent axle component providing unparalleled traction and versatility without the use of an advanced traction control systems. It first appeared on the 1999 Jeep® Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle and revolutionized four-wheel drive as the first and only axle differential to provide ``slip-to-grip'' performance in virtually any condition.

According to Fernandez, The Dodge Viper SRT-10's promise of more than 500 horsepower, 500 lb.-ft. of torque, and 505 cubic inches of engine displacement will make it truly unique in its performance specifications. The Viper SRT-10 is expected to achieve some of the highest all-around performance claims ever for a production vehicle.

Mr. Fernandez also noted that the Viper's 8.3-liter all-aluminum big-block engine drives huge 19-inch rear wheels and anchors a performance package that eschews technical gimmickry in favor of traditional engineering virtues. In creating the next chapter of Dodge Viper, the mission was to enhance its unfiltered blend of performance. Viper retains a traditional front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout with six-speed manual transmission. The commitment was made early on to use a racing-style chassis including fully independent four-wheel suspension, huge tires and wheels for maximum grip and massive brakes for stopping power. A new version of the Viper's four-wheel anti-lock disc brake system, originally introduced for the 2001 model year, will be enhanced on this next-generation car.

The Dodge Viper SRT-10 was debuted to the public at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Dana has a proud heritage of developing industry-standard torque management systems. Along with the Hydra-Lok(TM), recent product developments include the Dual Advantage(TM) dual disconnect system, and the TXT(TM) limited-slip differential.