Siding panel with improved locking mechanism and method of manufacture

A siding system comprising first and second siding panels disposed on an exterior face of a building, each of the first siding panel and second siding panel having a front face, a rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side, and a second side, and comprising:

• a folded layer of material along the top edge, the folded layer of material forming a folded nail hem at the top edge and a first locking mechanism disposed on the front face, the first locking mechanism including a curved channel portion;
• and
• a second locking mechanism disposed at the bottom edge of the siding panel, the second locking mechanism including a U-shaped portion formed by part of the front face, the bottom edge, and an upwardly extending portion opposite the front face, the upwardly extending portion including a curved section,
• wherein the first locking mechanism of the first siding panel is interlocked with the second locking mechanism of the second siding panel such that an entire interior surface of the curved channel portion of the first locking mechanism of the first siding panel is spaced from the curved section of the upwardly extending portion of the second locking mechanism of the second siding panel.