The Neon’s V6 engine was the cooler brother. It sent power to the rear wheels.

Name: Dodge Venom

First Debut:1994 Chicago Auto Show

Specifications: Based on the Neon platform, 3.5-liter V6 with 245 horsepower and 221 pound-feet torque, six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive

Why It Matters Now:

The Dodge Venom was not only a cool name but also showed that a boring production car like the Neon can be transformed into something exciting.

Painted in Venom Yellow Green Pearl, the one-off Dodge started out in life as a mundane Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth Neon before going through a multitude of changes turning it into a sports coupe. Its Viper-esque styling was perfect for the exotically designed performance car, without making it seem more like the original.

Although it was loosely inspired by the Neon, Dodge Venom borrowed the Intrepid’s V6 engine and ditched front-wheel drive for a tail-happy RWD layout. The engine produced 245 horsepower and 221 lbft (300 Nm) of power. This was considerably more than the 150-hp output of the DOHC engine in the Neon’s 2.0-liter DOHC. The two-seater was able to reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 5.2 seconds.

The Venom, like the Intrepid was designed with Dodge’s cab forward layout. This meant that the wheels were moved towards the corners of Dodge’s body. To improve handling in corners, the Neon had to be pushed further back on its wheelbase and extended its tracks. The Neon was designed with a double wishbone front suspension and rear suspension. It also had four-wheel discs with ABS for a smooth stop.

In recent years, Dodge has come up with some very cool names for its production models. Maybe it’s time for Dodge to bring back “Venom” for a more powerful muscle car. Hennessey may have a problem.