The Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth Neon is a front-engine, front-wheel drive

compact car Compact car is a vehicle size class — predominantly used in North America — that sits between subcompact cars and mid-size cars. "Small family car" is a British term and a part of the C-segment in the European car classification. However, p ...

that was introduced in January 1994 for

model year The model year (sometimes abbreviated "MY") is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured. ...

1995 by

Chrysler Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...

Dodge Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...

and

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

divisions in two- and four-door bodystyles over two generations. Marketed in Europe, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Egypt, Australia, South Africa and South America as a Chrysler, the Neon was offered in multiple versions and configurations over its production life, which ended after the 2005 model year. The Neon nameplate was subsequently resurrected in 2016 for the Dodge Neon, a

rebadged In the automotive industry, rebadging is a form of market segmentation used by automobile manufacturers around the world. To allow for product differentiation without designing or engineering a new model or brand (at high cost or risk), a man ...

variant of

Fiat Tipo The Fiat Tipo (Type 160) is a compact car, designed by the I.DE.A Institute design house, and produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995. The Tipo was initially available only as a five-door hatchback. The car was made entir ...

sedan for the

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

market.

1991 concept car

The Neon nameplate first appeared as a

concept car A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...

in 1991 under the

brand. Although radically styled and clearly not production-ready featuring sliding

suicide door A suicide door is an automobile door hinged at its rear rather than the front. Such doors were originally used on horse-drawn carriages, but are rarely found on modern vehicles, primarily because they are perceived as being less safe than a fron ...

s, the Neon concept resembled the future production vehicle. The Neon concept was designed by Chrysler designers who had joined the company from Chrysler's buyout of

American Motors Corporation American Motors Corporation (AMC; commonly referred to as American Motors) was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 1954. At the time, it was the ...

(AMC) in 1987.

First generation (1993)

The first generation Neon was introduced in January 1994 and manufactured until August 1999. It was available as a four-door

notchback A notchback is a design of a car with the rearmost section that is distinct from the passenger compartment and where the back of the passenger compartment is at an angle to the top of what is typically the rear baggage compartment. Notchback cars ...

sedan and a two-door

coupe A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and two doors. The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the French past parti ...

. Available engines were

SOHC An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...

and

DOHC An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion c ...

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; transaxle options were a 3-speed

Torqueflite TorqueFlite (also seen as Torqueflite) is the trademarked name of Chrysler Corporation's automatic transmissions, starting with the three-speed unit introduced late in the 1956 model year as a successor to Chrysler's two-speed PowerFlite. In the ...

automatic or a five-speed

manual Manual may refer to: Instructions * User guide * Owner's manual * Instruction manual (gaming) * Online help Other uses * Manual (music), a keyboard, as for an organ * Manual (band) * Manual transmission * Manual, a bicycle technique similar to ...

. The car was badged and sold as both a Dodge and a Plymouth in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

; in

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

was sold as Dodge and 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 Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...

Bob Lutz said, "There's an old saying in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

: '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 spiralling 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 to December 1996. The Neon was classed in the larger "Normal sized Passenger vehicles" tax bracket according to Japanese Government dimension regulations which obligated Japanese owners for additional yearly road taxes which affected sales. The Neon received praise for its appearance, price, and power when compared to competing cars such as the

Honda Civic The is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. Since 2000, the Civic has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. , the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Acc ...

DX at , the Civic EX at , the

Nissan Sentra The Nissan Sentra is a series of automobiles manufactured by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 1982. Since 1999, the Sentra has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. Until 2006, Sentra was a reba ...

at , the Ford Escort ZX2 at , the

Toyota Corolla The is a series of compact cars (formerly subcompact) manufactured and marketed globally by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Introduced in 1966, the Corolla was the best-selling car worldwide by 1974 and has been one of the best-selling cars in ...

at , the

Saturn S-Series The Saturn S-series is a family of compact cars from the Saturn automobile company of General Motors. Saturn pioneered the brand-wide "no-haggle" sales technique. The automobile platform, the Z-body, was developed entirely in-house at Saturn, and ...

at for SOHC variants and for DOHC variants, and the

Chevrolet Cavalier The Chevrolet Cavalier is a line of compact cars produced by Chevrolet. Serving as the replacement of the Chevrolet Monza, the Cavalier was the second Chevrolet model line to adopt front-wheel drive. Three versions of the Cavalier have been sol ...

Base and LS models at , among others. 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 15.9 seconds in the quarter mile. First-generation Neons were competitive in

SCCA The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional r ...

Solo

autocross Autocross (also called "Solo", "Auto-x" or "Autoslalom") is a timed competition in which drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course on either a sealed or an unsealed surface. It is a form of motorsports that emphasizes safe competition ...

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 in 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 available with a 1.8 L engine. Europe received one limited edition model, the CS that came only in Platinum paint. It was fitted with the SOHC engine, 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

*Production figures for 1999 were not provided *Production figures for 1999 were not provided

Trim levels

Plymouth Neon: 1995–1999 *base - 1995-1995 - Standard features included 2.0L 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 *''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. *''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 *''ACR'' - 1995–1999- Stood for American Club Racer, added alloy wheels to Base. *''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 spoiler. Chrysler Neon (Canada): 2000–2002 *''LE'' - 2000–2002 (entry level trim) *''LX'' - 2000-2002 *''R/T'' – 2001-2002 (manual transmission only) 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 ACR Neon, 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 1995, 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 A backronym is an acronym formed from an already existing word by expanding its letters into the words of a phrase. Backronyms may be invented with either serious or humorous intent, or they may be a type of false etymology or folk etymology. The ...

"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

The R/T model (Road/Track) debuted in the 1998 model year. Offered only with a 5-speed DOHC configuration, the R/T featured many of the ACR's mechanical upgrades including the numerically higher ratio 3.94 5-speed manual transmission, with the .81 5th gear and 130 mph speed limit. The R/T, however, was intended for the street, with more comfort and convenience features standard or available, and specialized parts like the adjustable dampers removed, although the dampers, as well as the front coil springs found on R/T models, were slightly stiffer, offering an advantage over standard model Neons. R/Ts featured optional stripes over the top of the car, silver "R/T" badging on the front door panels and the right side of the trunk deck lid, and a functional wing. The "Stripe Delete" option was available from the factory, but with no credit to the Neon's price. All striped R/Ts (black, red, blue) had silver-colored stripes, with the exception of the White R/Ts, which came with dark blue colored stripes. The R/T was available in the 4-door body style with limited numbers made.

Second generation (2000)

Sales of the second generation model started with the 2000 model year and production ended with the 2005 model year. The second-generation Neon was only available as a four-door sedan. In some global sales regions, including the U.S., the sole engine was the 2.0 L SOHC engine, the power output remaining at . An optional Magnum engine configuration (with an active intake manifold, and other engine revisions to increase power) that produced was available. Both engines had a redline of 6762 rpm. Dodge Neon 2

The second generation was more refined than the first-generation car. It was advertised that the second generation Neon had over 1,000 refinements from the original generation. The first generation's frameless windows were replaced with a full-framed door. Other NVH refinements were implemented. The new interior and greater size increased weight. The

engine (Chrysler code name ECC) was no longer available. In 2000, the R/T trim returned after a one-year hiatus. The R/T consisted of a new SOHC Magnum 2.0 L Engine, wheels, spoiler, dual chrome exhaust tips, quicker steering box and stiffer springs. The 2001 and 2002 R/Ts had a flat, 'hammerhead' spoiler. From 2000 to 2003, the R/T was sold as a Chrysler in the United Kingdom. The Neon was offered with a sport package for the 2001 model year only commemorating Dodge's return to the NASCAR scene, called the Motorsports Edition. It was available on SE, ES, and R/T and on SE/ES models, consisted of an R/T wing, R/T wheels, R/T springs, Goodyear NASCAR raised yellow-lettering tires, 'Dodge Motorsports' side decals, white instrument cluster, and R/T steering box. SE and ES cars were an R/T visually except for the lack of dual exhaust, R/T lower moldings, fog lamps, and R/T exclusive front bumper. The SE and ES only came equipped with the base model's engine and was available with an automatic transmission (unlike the manual-only R/T model), the R/T retained the 150hp Magnum engine. In 2001, there was also a Sport Appearance Package available on SE and ES, which added the R/T wing and 16” wheels as well as other option availability. 2001 was the last year for the Plymouth Neon, and the Plymouth brand as well. The last Plymouth Neon, which was also the last Plymouth ever produced (a silver four-door sedan), rolled off the assembly line on June 28, 2001. The former Dodge and Plymouth Neon were briefly sold under the Chrysler name in Canada from 1999 to 2002, until being renamed as Dodge SX 2.0 for 2003. As before, in Europe, Australia, Mexico, Asia, South Africa and South America, it continued to be sold as a Chrysler, as Dodge and Plymouth passenger cars were not marketed outside the U.S. and Canada at the time. Besides the 2.0 L engine, it used the same Tritec 1.6 L unit found in the

MINI The Mini is a small, two-door, four-seat car, developed as ADO15, and produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors, from 1959 through 2000. Minus a brief hiatus, original Minis were built for four decades and sold during ...

prior to 2007. The 1.6 L unit is a variation of the 2.0 L SOHC engine designed by Chrysler and built by Tritec. Originally, the second generation Neon featured a five-speed manual transmission using the former ACR gear ratios to improve acceleration. However, this hurt gas mileage and made the car noisier on the highway, and eventually, the original gear ratios were restored. A four-speed automatic (41TE) was offered in the Neon for the 2002 model year, and the 03-05 received an updated 40TE four-speed auto, replacing the earlier 3-speed 31TH. The Chrysler Neon was renamed Dodge SX 2.0 in Canada for 2003 and sold at Dodge dealerships. In Australia and Canada, the Chrysler Neon was discontinued in 2002. In 2002, the front clip was changed to match the R/T and ACR front clip with the exception of missing a lower lip. The Neon was facelifted once again for 2003 with large "crosseyed" headlights and crosshair grille to make it look more like a

Dodge Caravan The Dodge Caravan (and the long-wheelbase Dodge Grand Caravan) is a series of minivans that was manufactured by Chrysler from the 1984 to 2020 model years. The Dodge version of the Chrysler minivans, the Caravan was marketed as both a passenger v ...

and

Dodge Stratus The Dodge Stratus is a mid-size car that was introduced by Dodge in December 1994 and was based on the 4-door sedan Chrysler JA platform. The Stratus, Plymouth Breeze, and Chrysler Cirrus were all on ''Car and Driver'' magazine's Ten Best list ...

. The ACR model was discontinued for 2003; the R/T model for 2004. The Chrysler Neon continued to be sold in Europe until 2004. In Brazil, the Neon was marketed as a

luxury Luxury may refer to: *Luxury goods, an economic good or service for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises *Luxury tax, tax on products not considered essential, such as expensive cars **Luxury tax (sports), surcharge put ...

mid-size Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in t ...

sedan; for

it was a competitor to the Ford Escort, and sold as a Chrysler with either the 1.6 or 2.0 L engine and European-style

taillight The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted to or integrated into the front, rear, sides, and in some cases the top of a motor vehicle. They illuminate the road ahead for the driver and increase th ...

s (with separate amber indicator lights), except for the R/T model, which was a Dodge, with U.S.-style taillights. For the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

market, the Neon proved more successful than for the rest of

the Continent Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous continent of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by ...

. Trim levels were 2.0 LX and 2.0 SE. However, some grey import versions came in from

. This generation continued to be offered in Japan from 1999 to 2001. The Japanese version was installed with a leather interior and was marketed as a small luxury car to Japanese consumers. In 2002, the Neon was replaced by the

Chrysler PT Cruiser The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a retro-styled compact car manufactured and marketed internationally by Chrysler in 5-door hatchback wagon (2001–2010) and 2-door convertible (2005–2008) body styles—over a single generation, with an intermedia ...

in Japan.

Trim levels

Dodge Neon: 2000–2005 *''Highline'' - 2000–2001- Included 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission, AM/FM stereo with cassette player and 4 speakers, 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, manual windows, manual door locks, air conditioning, and anti-lock braking system (ABS). *''ES'' - 2000–2002- Added 15-inch alloy wheels, power door locks, and power front windows to Highline. *''SE'' - 2001–2005- Basically same features as Highline. *''R/T'' - 2001–2004- Added color-keyed exterior features and rear spoiler to ES. *''Motorsports Edition'' - 2001 *ACR - 2001-2002- Stood for American Club Racer. *base - 2002 Chrysler Neon Dash

*''S'' - 2002 *''SXT'' - 2002–2005- Added 15-inch alloy wheels, AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD player and 6 speakers, rear spoiler, power front windows, keyless entry, and power door locks to SE. *

SRT-4 The Dodge Neon SRT-4 is a sport compact car manufactured by Dodge from 2003 to 2005. A turbocharged variant of the Neon, the car was developed by DaimlerChrysler's in house PVO (Performance Vehicle Operations) tuner group. PVO was officially r ...

- 2003–2005- A turbocharged and intercooled 2.4 L 4-cylinder gasoline engine (A853 engine), 2.25-inch exhaust with 2 resonators, no muffler, and dual 3.75-inch stainless steel tips, suspension upgrades (stiffer springs and struts, ACR came with adjustable Tokico Illumina struts), larger brakes, 17x6-inch alloy wheels (16x7-inch for ACR), and high-profile rear wing spoiler. Plymouth Neon: 2000–2001 *''Highline'' - 2000–2001- Included 2.0 L I4 engine, 5-speed manual transmission, AM/FM stereo with cassette player and 4 speakers, 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, manual windows, manual door locks, manual air conditioning, and anti-lock braking system (ABS). *''LX'' - 2000–2001 Chrysler Neon: 2000–2004 (Europe) *''R/T'' - 2000–2003 *''LX'' - 2000–2004 *''SE'' - 2000–2003 Chrysler Neon: 2000–2002 (Canada) *''LE'' - 2001 Limited Edition *''SE'' - 2000–2002

Final year

DaimlerChrysler discontinued the Neon, with the final cars assembled on September 23, 2005 at the

Belvidere Assembly The Belvidere Assembly Plant (BVAP) is an automobile production facility owned and operated by Stellantis North America. The factory opened in 1965 in Belvidere, Illinois, United States, and currently assembles the Jeep Cherokee. History The f ...

plant in

Belvidere, Illinois Belvidere is a city in Boone County, settled on the Kishwaukee River in far northern Illinois, United States. Known as the 'City of Murals', Belvidere is home to several public art installations throughout the North and South State Street histo ...

. The Neon was replaced in the spring of 2006 with the 2007

Dodge Caliber The Dodge Caliber is a compact hatchback manufactured and marketed by Chrysler's Dodge division from model years 2007 to 2012, replacing the Dodge Neon and Chrysler PT Cruiser. Following the Caliber concept which debuted at the 2005 Geneva Mot ...

, which is based on the shared

Mitsubishi Motors is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.GS platform. Like the Neon, the Caliber had an SRT-4 variant, but like the standard Caliber, it used a completely different engine. The Belvidere plant underwent retooling for the Caliber,

Jeep Compass The Jeep Compass is a compact crossover SUV introduced for the 2007 model year, and is currently in its second generation. The first generation Compass and Patriot, its rebadged variant, were among Jeep's first crossover SUVs. The second-generat ...

, and

Patriot A patriot is a person with the quality of patriotism. Patriot may also refer to: Political and military groups United States * Patriot (American Revolution), those who supported the cause of independence in the American Revolution * Patriot m ...

. In markets like

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

the Neon range was reduced to either 2.0 LX or 2.0 SE models.

Safety

The first generation Neon earned a ''"Poor"'' rating in an offset frontal

Crash test A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in crashworthiness and crash compatibility for various modes of transportation (see automobile safety) or related systems and componen ...

conducted by the

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic collision ...

. The second generation Neon earned a higher ''"Marginal"'' rating. The second generation were rated as ''"Poor"'' in the side impact crash test (IIHS Safety ratings go from ''"Poor"'', to ''"Marginal"'', ''"Acceptable"'' and ''"Good"''). By comparison, the

performed worse in the small car category in 2005, the Neon's final year. Other cars made from 2000 to 2005 that were rated "Poor" when tested without optional side airbags included the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, Mitsubishi Lancer, and Chevrolet Cobalt. No small car made in this period, tested without side airbags, achieved better than a "Poor." In 2005, the Institute carried out side-impact tests on 14 small car models, simulating an impact with an SUV. Among these, the Neon performed the worst. IIHS stated that the Neon had ''"...major problems beginning with its structure. This car is a disaster...The structure is poor...If this had been a real driver in a real crash, it's likely it wouldn’t have been survivable...if safety is a priority, the Neon is a small car to be avoided."'' Second generation headrests were rated as ''"Poor"''. ''Driver deaths'' fatality risks statistics — published by the IIHS — rated the Neon and 15 other vehicles among the ''"Highest rates of driver deaths."'', The Neon had 161 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, while the average for the Neon class (4-door small) was 103. Other small cars on the list included the

Acura RSX RSX may refer to: Computing *RSX, a RISC CPU from Encore Computer *RSX-11, an operating system family developed by Digital Equipment Corporation * RSX 'Reality Synthesizer', a graphics chip for the PS3 * Resident System Extension, part of the CP/M ...

(202),

Kia Spectra The Kia Spectra is a compact car produced by Kia Motors between 2000 and 2009. It succeeded the Kia Sephia and it was replaced by the Kia Forte (also known as Kia Cerato The Kia Cerato (also known as the Kia Forte in North America, K3 in South ...

hatchback (191), and the

Mitsubishi Eclipse The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a sport compact car that was produced by Mitsubishi Motors, Mitsubishi in four generations from 1989 until 2011. A convertible body style was added during the 1996 model year. The first two generations share the autom ...

(169).

Sales

Third generation (2016)

The third generation of the Dodge Neon is the sedan version of Fiat's Project Aegea, adapted for the Mexican and Middle Eastern markets as well as marking a comeback of the Neon nameplate after an 11-year absence. Released for the 2017 model year, around the same time the

Dodge Dart Dodge Dart is a line of automobiles marketed by Dodge from the 1959 to 1976 model years in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets. The Dart name originally appeared on a 1956 Chrysler show car featuring ...

was expected to end production, there were reports that it would be sold in the U.S. and Canadian markets by 2018 as a replacement for the Dart. Consistent with

FCA FCA may refer to: Arts * Federation of Canadian Artists * Foundation for Contemporary Art, in Ghana * Foundation for Contemporary Arts, in the United States Business and economics * False Claims Act, a United States federal law * Federal Cus ...

's plans to dedicate U.S. production to

Jeep Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Moto ...

and

Ram Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to: Animals * A male sheep * Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish People * Ram (given name) * Ram (surname) * Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director * RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch * Ra ...

vehicles while using the

North American Free Trade Agreement The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA ; es, Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte, TLCAN; french: Accord de libre-échange nord-américain, ALÉNA) was an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States that crea ...

to make Chrysler and Dodge passenger cars in Canada and Mexico, the Neon will be built and imported from

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

. Plans to market the third-generation Neon vehicle north of Mexico were dropped following

General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...

and

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

each paring down their own passenger car lineups in the U.S., including ending sales of potential compact-sized rivals

Chevrolet Cruze The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact car that is produced by General Motors since 2008. It was designated as a globally developed, designed, and manufactured four-door compact sedan, complemented by a five-door hatchback body variant from 2011, and ...

and

Ford Focus The Ford Focus is a compact car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1998. It was created under Alexander Trotman's Ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. The ...

in North America.

References

External links

Plymouth Neon
on Chrysler website (archived, 9 Nov 2000) * * {{Authority control

Neon Neon is a chemical element with the symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It is a noble gas. Neon is a colorless, odorless, inert monatomic gas under standard conditions, with about two-thirds the density of air. It was discovered (along with krypton ...

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