Dodge Omni O24: Retro Comeback We Didn’t Know We Needed

Growing up, my mom drove a 1979 Plymouth Horizon TC3. It was the sportier sibling to the Plymouth Horizon and the Dodge Omni, and though it wasn’t fast, it had personality. That car sparked my lifelong soft spot for Chrysler’s compact oddballs. So when I stumbled across Jon Ostendorf’s digital rendering of a modern-day Dodge Omni O24 on the Facebook group AI Automotive Art, I had to stop scrolling.

This wasn’t just some slapped-together concept. Ostendorf’s take on the long-forgotten fastback was stunning. It kept the original car’s funky silhouette—low roofline, three-door layout, slanted rear—but added a modern twist: sharp LED lighting, flush-mounted wheels, a muscular stance, and all the aggressive body lines you’d expect from a modern-day Dodge. It’s a blend of retro charm and future thinking that nails the formula.

For those unfamiliar, the original Dodge Omni 024 and Plymouth Horizon TC3 was sold from 1979 to 1982. It was essentially a sleeker, two-door version of the Omni hatchback. Built on the same platform as the Chrysler/Simca Horizon, the 024 offered sportier styling, but not necessarily sporty performance. Power came from a 1.7-liter Volkswagen-sourced engine or a Chrysler-built 2.2-liter I4. It looked faster than it actually was—and that gap between style and substance made it a bit of an underdog.

But Ostendorf’s design flips that narrative. It teases what Dodge could do with a compact performance car if they wanted to build something small, affordable, and exciting again. And let’s be honest—Dodge doesn’t have a truly affordable car anymore. Right now, the cheapest Dodge you can buy is the 2025 Hornet GT AWD, which starts at $29,995 before destination charges. There’s nothing under $30K, and certainly nothing in the low-$20K range.

This modern Omni O24 could fill that gap.

If Dodge ever chose to bring back a small car like this, they already have the tools. Stellantis has a new STLA Small platform coming soon—primarily for Europe, but it could easily support a U.S.-friendly compact. That platform is a relative of the one used for the Fiat 500e, so there’s electric potential. But even if Dodge wanted to go gas-powered, the 1.3-liter turbocharged GSE-T4 engine used in the Jeep® Renegade would be a killer fit. That little motor puts out 177 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque. In a lightweight FWD car the size of the Omni O24? That’d be a blast.

And let’s not forget: Dodge already dipped its toe into electric compacts decades ago. The 1980 Dodge Omni Electrica 007, built by Jet Industries in Austin, Texas, was a fully electric version of the original car. It didn’t set the world on fire, but it shows the idea isn’t completely foreign.

Would Dodge actually build something like this? Probably not anytime soon. But Ostendorf’s rendering shows there’s still passion out there for affordable, compact performance cars. The Omni O24 might be a forgotten nameplate, but designs like this remind us it still has a place in the hearts of car fans—and maybe even a place on the road again one day.