Starting in 1995 the
Dodge Neon was produced by the Dodge and Plymouth brands with a production lasting until the 2005 model year. The Neon also carried the Chrysler name outside of the United States. The Dodge Neon was produced to take the place of the
Dodge Shadow and Plymouth Sundance, as well as the Dodge Colt vehicles. The Neon was attractive and popular from the onset, but the low price and great performance made it even more popular!
The first generation of the Neon was available from the 1995 until the 1999 model years and was first introduced in January of 1994. The first generation of the Neon was available in a four door sedan or two door coupe. The Neon was equipped with either a 2.0 litre SOHC or a 2.0 litre DOHC four cylinder engine. Consumers had a choice of either a three speed automatic transmission or a five speed manual transmission.
The second generation of the Dodge Neon started in 2000 and continued until 2005. The second generation was only available as a four door sedan, and was equipped with a 2.0 litre SOHC engine with an optional Magnum configuration that produced more horsepower. Dodge took the time to really refine the second generation of the Neon as the first had many issues with reliability and was in need of some updates. In all, Dodge refined 1,000 items on the second generation so that the car now had a full framed door and the ride was much more quiet and comfortable. While the second generation of the Neon was more refined, Dodge will pull the plug in the Spring of 2006 replacing it with the Dodge Caliber.
