Solutia Automotive Color, Metallic Interlayers Featured on SEMA Concept Vehicle

Chrysler PT Coupe Concept Uses Laminated Glass as it Reaches Out to Car Customizers

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 5 -- The Chrysler PT Coupe concept vehicle, Chrysler Corporation's dramatic new interpretation of its Chrysler PT Cruiser, made its debut this week at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas. The Coupe is a study in color, even in the glass, much of which derives its color and texture from advanced glass interlayers supplied by Solutia Automotive.

The Coupe's laminated glass comprises a sandwich of two pieces of glass with an interlayer of Solutia's Vanceva(TM) (Van-SEE-va) Color polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and metallic film in the panoramic glass roof, and Vanceva Color in the rear-quarter and rear windows. Custom glazier Foxfire Glass created the roof, rear-quarter and rear glass, and supplied it to Decoma International for the Coupe.

In addition to providing dramatic options for design, laminated glass significantly reduces wind noise and improves intrusion resistance and UV protection, compared to conventional tempered glass. The addition of the metallic interlayer also provides a solar benefit because it reflects the sun away from the vehicle.

"Custom vehicles are all about standing out from the crowd, which is what our Vanceva product line can do," said Jay Pyper, North American market develop director for Solutia Automotive. "Our goal at SEMA, with its huge audience of aftermarket equipment dealers, is to show serious Tuners that the future of automotive glass is here today using Solutia's Vanceva brand products."

Solutia currently supplies its standard Saflex(R) brand interlayer to virtually every major glass manufacturer for original and replacement parts, and can be found in the windshield of about half of the vehicles on the road today.

Solutia Inc. , a publicly owned enterprise headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, has a major presence in both national and international markets. Solutia produces Saflex(R) and Vanceva(TM) brand polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers, that are used to manufacture the laminated glass used in automotive, architectural and residential applications throughout the world, and is the sole supplier of PVB for aircraft -- the most demanding application. The company's other businesses include synthetic fibers, aviation hydraulic fluids, high-performance specialty chemicals and other performance products.