Dodge Omni
The Dodge Omni and the nearly identical badge engineered variant, the Plymouth Horizon, is a subcompact car manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Corporation for model years 1978-1990. The first Chrysler model line produced with front-wheel drive, the Omni and Horizon were also the first front-wheel drive economy cars assembled in the United States. Marketed for eleven years with very few changes, around 2,500,000 Omnis and Horizons were manufactured, with the Plymouth variants more popular than the Dodge-branded models.
| Dodge Omni & Plymouth Horizon | |
|---|---|
1979 Horizon (left) & 1978 Omni (right) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation American Motors (1985–1987) |
| Also called | Plymouth Horizon Plymouth Expo (Canada) |
| Production | December 5, 1977 – February 2, 1990 |
| Model years | 1978–1990 |
| Assembly |
|
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | L-body |
| Related | Chrysler/Simca/Talbot Horizon Dodge Charger Dodge Omni 024 Dodge Rampage Plymouth Horizon TC3 Plymouth Scamp Plymouth Turismo Shelby GLHS |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed Volkswagen manual 5-speed Chrysler manual 3-speed A404 automatic 3-speed A413 automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 99.2 in (2,520 mm) |
| Length | 163.2 in (4,145 mm) |
| Width | 66.2 in (1,681 mm) |
| Height | 53.4 in (1,356 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,137 lb (969 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Dodge Shadow Plymouth Sundance |
The first (and only) world car designed by Chrysler, the model line originated from a design of Chrysler Europe (who developed the namesake Chrysler Horizon). While visually similar, the American Omni/Horizon would have extensive functional differences from its European counterpart, primarily to accommodate US marketing and regulatory requirements.
From 1977 to 1990, Chrysler manufactured the Omni and Horizon at its Belvidere Assembly Plant facility (Belvidere, Illinois); from 1987 to 1989, the model line was manufactured under contract by American Motors Corporation (AMC) at its own facility in Kenosha, Wisconsin. From 1987 to 1990, the model line was marketed alongside its successor, the Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance hatchback sedan.