The Neon is a compact car built by Chrysler from the 1995 to 2005 model years. Taking its name from the inert gas, the model line was marketed by Dodge and Plymouth; in Europe, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Egypt, Australia, South Africa, and South America, the Neon was branded as a Chrysler (from 2001 to 2003, also in Canada). The model line was the first compact car to become profitable for an American automaker.
The Neon used the front-wheel drive Chrysler PL platform, which replaced three sets of vehicles: the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon (retired in 1990), the Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance, and the Mitsubishi-sourced Dodge/Plymouth Colt (Eagle did not sell the Neon to replace the Summit).
For the Mexican and the Middle Eastern market, the Dodge Neon nameplate returned from 2016 to 2020 as a rebranded version of the Fiat Tipo sedan for the Mexican and the Middle Eastern market.
During its original production, Chrysler assembled the Neon in its Belvidere Assembly (Belvidere, Illinois) and Toluca Car Assembly (Toluca, Mexico State) facilities.
Development The development of the Neon began life in the mid-1980s at American Motors Corporation (AMC), as its designers began development on a replacement for the Renault Alliance (the American version of the Renault R9). In 1987, Chrysler Corporation acquired AMC, combining the AMC design team with Chrysler engineers previously assigned to the L platform (Omni/Horizon and variants).
The PL project became codenamed "Counterattack", in relation to Lee Iacocca's opinion to media statements that Big Three automakers could no longer build vehicles with the innovation, quality, or efficiency that their Japanese counterparts used to attract consumers. The project goal for the newly merged team was to develop a car that was "lightweight, fuel sipping, powerful, comfortable in an American manner, yet to cost no more than a bit under $4,000 to build, with a retail sales price of no more than $8,000".
Led by Tom Gale, the straight-edged 1980s design language retained a three-box layout (in contrast to the Omni and Horizon), but with far more modern styling, following the cab-forward designs debuted by the Lamborghini Portofino and Eagle Optima.
1991 Dodge Neon concept Chrysler introduced the Neon as a Dodge-branded concept car at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show. Developed as a prototype to expand its environmental friendliness, the Neon was assembled with recycled components and designed to be virtually 100% recyclable. To further reduce its impact, the car was fitted with an onboard trash compactor to eliminate litter created inside the vehicle.
Serving as a loose preview of the production vehicle in development, the 1991 Dodge Neon concept was a four-door sedan exploring cab forward design closer in a compact car. To maximize interior space, all four doors slid open from the center; the body was not fitted with a B-pillar. Similar to the Citroën 2CV, the Neon concept was fitted with a full-length retractable fabric roof, effectively making the car a four-door convertible. While fitted with a conventional 3-speed automatic, the concept used a 1.1 L I3 two-stroke engine supplied by Mercury Marine.
The Dodge Neon concept car earned a gold IDEA91 award by the Industrial Designers Society of America.
Development While several features of the 1991 concept were abandoned for production (including its powelr-sliding doors, retractable fabric roof, trash compactor, and two-stroke engine), the styling of the concept vehicle heavily influenced the production vehicle, including its rounded roofline, circular headlights, and minimalist grille design (abandoning the Dodge crosshair design).
First generation (1994)
The first generation Neon was introduced at the 1993 Frankfurt Motor Show and went on sale in January 1994 for the 1995 model year. It was available as a four-door notchback sedan and a two-door notchback coupe. Available engines were SOHC and DOHC versions of Chrysler's 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine producing at 6,000 rpm and at 5,000 rpm or at 6,500 rpm and at 5,600 rpm, respectively; transmission options were a 3-speed Torqueflite automatic or a five-speed manual.
The car was badged and sold as both a Dodge and a Plymouth in the United States and Canada; in Mexico and Gulf Cooperation Council it was sold as a Dodge and a Chrysler, and in Europe, Australia, and other export markets it was sold as the Chrysler Neon. At the Neon's release, then president of Chrysler Corporation Bob Lutz said, "There's an old saying in Detroit: 'Good, fast, or cheap. Pick any two.' We refuse to accept that." The Japanese press touted the Neon as the "Japanese car killer", due to a spiraling Yen due to the Japanese "bubble economy" crash and the lower production cost of the Neon. The Neon also became the first Chrysler small car sold in Japan but despite focused attention, only 994 were sold in Japan between June and December 1996.Nikkei Shimbun evening March 31, 1997 One hindrance to sales was that the Neon was classed in the larger "Normal sized Passenger vehicles" tax bracket according to the Japanese Government dimension regulations which obligated Japanese owners for additional yearly road taxes which affected sales; had it been narrower it would have been in a significantly lower tax category. The Neon received praise for its appearance, price, and ample power when compared to its competitors. Car and Driver tested the DOHC 5-speed equipped Neon R/T and reported that it could run 0–60 in 7.6 seconds and 16.0 seconds in the quarter mile. First-generation Neons were competitive in SCCA Solo autocross and showroom-stock road racing.
Equipment Neons had unconventional option availability, including the lack of power windows in the rear doors. Certain color base-model Neons, including red and black, had bumper covers molded in color rather than painted. These covers, while textured and not as glossy as paint, absorbed scuffs and scrapes with less visible damage. The mid-level Highline models for 1995 and 1996 used wheel covers with a bubble design. Initially, Neons were available in many bold colors including Nitro yellow-green, Lapis Blue, Aqua, and Magenta. Paint color choices became more subdued by the 1998-1999 model years, as the majority of buyers opted for more conventional tones.
In the Australian market, Chrysler Neons came in two models, the SE and the better-equipped LX. Later, the LX model was replaced by the LE with the updated model in 1999.
In Japan, only the sedan was offered. It was very similar to those sold in the Australian market. it was equipped with amber turn signal indicators next to the tail lights to comply with Japanese regulations and a side indicator installed in the fender behind the front wheel opening.
In the United States, the lineup started out as Base, Highline, and Sport, with different styles and options in each line, but the lineup titles changed frequently (other trim lines included Expresso, SE, ES, SXT, ACR, and R/T).
In Europe, the car was also available with a 1.8 L engine to suit local tax regimes. Europe received one limited-edition model, the CS that came only in Platinum paint. It was fitted with the SOHC engine, North American R/T specification suspension (slightly lower, rear, front), rear spoiler, unique alloy wheels, standard leather interior, dual stainless steel exhaust, a six-CD changer, and a shorter 5-speed manual gearbox.
Production figures rowspan=2 Dodge Neon Plymouth Neon Chrysler Neon(export only) AnnualTotalCoupeSedanYearly TotalCoupeSedanYearly Total199533,800204,647238,44727,320176,967204,287 54,976497,710199638,40779,247147,11030,84784,635115,482 24,801287,393199733,51799,605133,12224,89072,21797,107 25,166255,395199834,500125,249159,74921,90281,806103,708 19,321282,778199919,57043,02562,59511,92431,67443,598 13,605119,798Totals741,023564,182137,8691,443,074
Trim levels
Plymouth Neon: 1995–1999 base – 1995–1995 - Standard features included a 2.0 L Inline 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission, 13-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, AM/FM stereo with 4 speakers, and dual front SRS airbags. Highline – 1994–1999- Added to Base air conditioning, side molding, daytime lights, remote trunk release, painted bumper. Sport – 1994–1996- Added to Highline color-keyed wheel covers, AM/FM stereo with a cassette player, equalizer, CD changer controls, and 6 speakers. Expresso – 1995–1999- Added to Highline power front windows an AM/FM stereo with cassette player. EX – 1997–1999 (Canada only) ACR – 1995–1999- Stood for American Club Racer, added alloy wheels to Base. Style – 1997–1999
Dodge Neon: 1995–1999 base – 1995-1995- Standard features included 2.0L Inline 4-Cylinder (I4) engine, 5-speed manual transmission., 13-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, AM/FM stereo with 4 speakers, and dual front SRS airbags. Highline – 1995–1999- Added to Base air conditioning. 14 inch wheel steel wheels with wheel covers. can be optioned with the "power bulge hood" as well as a "surfboard style" spoiler. The highline trim was the "base model" closer to the end of the 1st generation. Sport – 1995–1999- Added to Highline color-keyed wheel covers, AM/FM stereo with a cassette player including an equalizer, CD changer controls, and 6 speakers. EX- 1997–1999 (Canada only) The EX trim was a package that included 2.0L DOHC, Tilt steering, Front/Rear floor mats, AM/FM/Cassette and six speakers, power bulge hood, rear deck spoiler, cast-aluminum “Neon” alloys, and “EX” decals on the C-pillars. ACR – 1995–1999- Stood for American Club Racer, added alloy wheels to Base. came with fog light orientated bumper. originally only sold to SCCA members. R/T – 1998–1999- Added to Highline white hood and trunk "Rally" stripes, white-painted alloy wheels, AM/FM stereo with a cassette player including an equalizer, CD changer controls, and 6 speakers, as well as a rear "Surfboard style" spoiler.
Chrysler Neon (Europe): 1995–1999 LE – 1995–1999 LX – 1995–1999 SLX – June 1997 – 1999 GLX – October 1997 – 1999 CS – February 1998 – 1999
Special models
ACR
The Neon ACR, available with the DOHC engine, featured four-wheel disc brakes, Arvin non-adjustable struts for 1995–1996 models and Koni adjustable dampers for 1997–1999 models, thicker anti-sway bars, stiffer suspension bushings, fast-ratio steering, heavy-duty wheel hubs, and a five-speed manual transmission with a shorter .81 fifth gear and final drive ratio of 3.94 for quicker acceleration. 1995 through 1997 models featured adjustable camber. The computer-controlled speed limiter was removed from 1995 ACR models (limited to on later models), and ABS was also, to save weight. The ACR offers no badging to distinguish it from other Neon models; the only visible differences are a bumper with fog light holes, but no fog lights and a lack of side moldings. For the 1995 model year, the ACR was only offered to SCCA members, but in subsequent years it was available to the general public. The name "ACR" was initially the internal ordering code for the "Competition Package", as it was termed in dealer materials; however, as knowledge of the model spread, the ACR name stuck. The backronym "American Club Racer" was coined due to its popularity with club and grassroots racers. To save weight, both the standard A/M-F/M radio with cassette player and air conditioning could be deleted, both for credit.
R/T