![]() Both versions were sold in Sport or Highline trim levels, in addition to the base trim.Ĭonstructed on a completely new Chrysler body platform, the Neon's 'cab forward' and wheels to the comer design features were an innovative design. Sold as a Dodge and Plymouth in the U.S., as a Dodge and Chrysler in Canada, and as the Chrysler Neon outside of North America, the Neon was available with either a 3-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual transmission. The Neon featured either a 132hp SAW 2.0L SOHC or a 150hp SEA 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder engine under its hood. An all-new vehicle, the Neon was not a down-sized version of any other platform.įirst debuting in January of 1994, the first generation Neon was available as a 2-door coupe or a 4-door sedan. The least expensive passenger cars in the Chrysler Corporation lineup, the design of the Dodge and Plymouth Neons was an investment that cost just $1.3 billion for the Investors. The Neon was produced in Toluco, Mexico or Belvedere, Illinois and was the replacement for both the Shadow and Sundance in both the Plymouth and Dodge product lines. Wanting to prove that domestic carmakers could still do well in the small vehicle market, the Dodge/Plymouth Neon was launched in the summer of 1994 as a 1995 model, and proved to be a great hit! The neon was voted as the 'Car of the Year' by the Canadian auto press. ![]() Many different versions were produced throughout its production period. The Dodge Plymouth Neon was a front-wheel-drive vehicle that was meant to replace the Plymouth Sundance, the Dodge Shadow, and the Dodge/Plymouth Colt series. It carried Chrysler badges and for a short period, it was sold in Canada and export markets beyond the U.S. The LX eventually was replaced by a more updated model the LE in 1999.Ī compact vehicle that was produced from 1995 through 2005, the Dodge Plymouth Neon was also called the Dodge SX 2.0 in Canada. In Europe, the Neon was available with a 1.8 L engine, and in the Australian market Chrysler Neon offered two models, the SE and the more equipped LX. These versions came with four-wheel disc brakes, suspensions that were performance-oriented with stiff front springs and much more. Affordable amateur racing cars equipped with SOHC or DOHC, they were available as either a sedan or coupe and carried many features. Neons have been known for having a strong racing record, first-generation and second-generation models were highly competitive in SCCA Solo autocross racing. The lack of updated features greatly hurt the Neons chance of selling potential. ![]() The automatic setup of the defroster activating the air conditioner was a feature that many drivers found disagreeable. Other issues that affected the reputation of the Neon was the lack of power windows in the rear doors and the inconvenient design of the vent/AC. These earlier issues were eventually reconstructed on older models and became standard on new models, but the reputation for unreliability and poor quality remained a stigma for the Dodge Neon. ![]() The first-generation models also suffered with poor paint finish, which caused the paint to fall off in sheets. ![]()
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