Chrysler LLC’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Selects Alcoa’s Dura-Bright® Technology for Dodge Viper and Jeep® Grand Cherokee

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Automotive Wheels, a division of Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, announced today that it has been awarded platform placement of Dura-Bright® technology wheels with Chrysler LLC’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) engineering organization. Two new wheels within the Chrysler SRT family, including both Dodge and Jeep® platforms, will begin placement with the 2009 model year.

“Our innovative Dura-Bright® technology has enjoyed commercial success for many years in the heavy duty truck market and more recently with leading Global automobile manufacturers. We are honored that Chrysler’s SRT organization has recognized that this wheel surface innovation can add value and product differentiation through easy to clean maintenance benefits extended to their new vehicle owners,” said Kevin Kramer, President, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products.

Chrysler’s SRT organization has selected the patented surface treatment for the standard 5-spoke wheel fitted to the Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe and roadster. Alcoa forged wheels treated with Dura-Bright® technology allow Viper owners to maintain their sports cars appearance with minimal maintenance effort. Vehicles fitted with aggressive brake packages, like the Dodge Viper SRT10, typically generate a high level of brake dust. Viper owners will now be able to maintain the appearance of their vehicle with less effort to keep their wheels cleaner with Dura-Bright® technology.

Chrysler’s SRT organization has also selected Dura-Bright® technology for fitment on Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. Owners will appreciate the exclusive wheel surface treatment to easily clean away brake dust, dirt and road grime whether they use the vehicle for on-road or off-road performance.

Alcoa began supplying one-piece forged aluminum SRT wheels on the Dodge Viper SRT10 in 2002. The company has supplied wheels for all SRT8 fitments, including Chrysler 300C, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum and Jeep Grand Cherokee since 2004. 2009 will signal the first applications of Dura-Bright® technology to the Chrysler SRT organization. Look for “db” engraved on Dodge Viper SRT10 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 wheels, to identify them as being specially treated with Alcoa’s patented Dura-Bright® technology.

Along with the benefits of easy to clean Dura-Bright® technology, all SRT wheels by Alcoa are forged from one piece of aerospace grade 6061-T6 aluminum. The forging process aligns the grain of the metal producing a strong and durable wheel with light weight benefits to enhance vehicle performance and fuel economy. Forged aluminum wheels by Alcoa are typically twice as strong while reducing weight by over 20 percent as a comparable cast aluminum wheel.

All aluminum wheels for Chrysler’s SRT organization are forged at Alcoa’s Cleveland (Ohio) Works Plant. For more information, visit www.strongwheels.com.

About Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products

Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, serves the commercial vehicle, automotive, and defense markets with products used in a range of applications including cast and forged aluminum wheels, aluminum space frames, specialized vacuum die cast products, niche products such as Dura-Bright® and Dura-Flange® wheels and M-Series™ medium truck wheels, as well as a variety of other aluminum components for these markets. AWTP is composed of three divisions: Transportation Products, Commercial Vehicle Wheels, and Automotive Wheels. It employs 2,800 people at 30 locations worldwide.

About Alcoa

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world leader in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina combined through its active and growing participation in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, structures and building systems. The Company has 97,000 employees in 34 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com