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Toledo, Ohio, March 20, 2007 - Dana Corporation announced today that it is supplying Spicer front and rear axles and Spicer Life Series front and rear propshafts to the Chrysler Group for the new 2007 Jeep Wrangler. The enhanced axles and Spicer Life Series propshafts are designed to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), while the propshafts also help to improve crash performance. Dana has provided axles and propshafts continuously for the Jeep Wrangler since the Willys MA was first introduced in 1941. The supply arrangement is believed to be the longest in the automotive industry. "Dana is pleased to extend its historic relationship with this vehicle by providing enhanced axles and new propshaft technology for the new 2007 Jeep Wrangler," said Michael J. Burns, Dana chairman and CEO. "By working closely with the Chrysler Group, we have been able to reduce component complexity while providing drivers with advanced drivetrain technology." Dana provides front and rear steel propshafts for both the standard and extended-wheelbase versions of the Wrangler. The front propshafts feature staked-and-centered cardan universal joints, which improve refinement - resulting in an enhanced high-speed dynamic performance. The propshafts on both the standard and extended-wheelbase versions feature a splined-tube design, which allows for additional plunge beyond a straight-tube design. The manufacturing technology ensures precise component orientation, which substantially improves propshaft balance characteristics. The enhanced Spicer front and rear axles are balanced for improved NVH characteristics. The rear axles are available with an optional Spicer Trac- Lok limited slip differential. The new 2007 Jeep Wrangler also features a Victor Reinz cylinder-head cover assembly on the 2.4L engine and exhaust manifold gaskets on the 4.0L Power Tech engine. |
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