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

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

Digital Design Takes Dodge's Forgotten Fastback Into The Modern Age​


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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.

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

Explore the Dodge Omni O24: a stunning retro comeback with modern design elements that honors its classic charm.
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Click to expand...
A modern interpretation of the Omni 024 / Charger 2.2 and Horizon TC3 / Turismo that is actually in production is the Toyota Prius. The Prius starts at just under 30K. Honda is going against the Prius with the latest Civic hybrid.

I would build an entry level Dodge using the Smart platform, which is used for a variety of global Stellantis products, including the Fiat Grande Panda. The Smart platform was supposed to replace the eCMP platform, but the older platform continues to spawn new vehicles. If Dodge is serious about going against the Asian brands, this vehicle should show up as an EV with an optional ICE range extender. The drive train components have to be made here and the Dodge people should have to have total control of the project without any PSA influence.

Is anybody selling a two door hatchback these days beyond the Fiat 500e? I would rather see Dodge build a small crossover wagon, similar to the Fiat Tipo. The first thing Dodge needs to do is fix their marketing strategy. The Hornet is a disaster far beyond any mechanical shortcomings.
 
Dodge does need a quality vehicle in this segment, but the branding "O24" means nothing to the target market now, only 60+ year olds who were alive when it came out. The Omni GLH branding is also obsolete due to its ties to Shelby. An Omni today would compete at the low end with the Elantra/Forte pair from HK. The Civic from Honda and Corolla from Toyota. Then have an SRT edition that competes with the HK N series , the Civic R and the Corolla GR.
Have Stellantis USA set up a racing series called the Omni Cup and hire NASCAR drivers to compete in them.
 
Jared B said:

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

Digital Design Takes Dodge's Forgotten Fastback Into The Modern Age​


View attachment 11188

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.

moparinsiders.com

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

Explore the Dodge Omni O24: a stunning retro comeback with modern design elements that honors its classic charm.
moparinsiders.com moparinsiders.com
Click to expand...
It's fair. In all honesty it looks more like a new retro ford escort with a dodge front grill and dodge tail lights to me.
 
Bought the original O24 (gray/black) used from my local dealer for commuting to work. Loved the looks, but it was a piece of junk. Doors could not open, slow, struggled to even get up steep hills with four passengers. Traded it for a new Dodge Daytona Turbo Z, which I loved.
A new similarly sporty O24 or Daytona Turbo Z would find entry level buyers for Dodge. Doors must work and have power to match looks this time around. That turbo four was pretty quick back then. Love the concepts you did here.
 
I owned a '79 Plymouth Horizon TC3 in the early to mid 80's and loved the car. It was plenty fast and, as I was a musician, the hatchback could easily carry my gear to and from gigs. The rendering above looks great and made me think of some fond memories I'd forgotten about. I'm not sure what current platform they could use, but an affordable, good looking, sporty car will always sell if the quality is there. It looks like a winner to me.
 
My first car was a 1983 Dodge Omni, I would definitely get one of these in an ICE or hybrid version
 
Allegedly, there is a replacement for the Jeep Renegade on the way. Anything Dodge sells will complete against that in the showroom, but will be the same vehicle beneath the sheet metal. The Lancia shown above is the corporate eCMP car wearing a Lancia hat. The Jeep version of the eCMP is the Avenger. A Dodge version would be the Dodge equivalent to the latest Chevy Trax, except GM went out of their way to make sure the Trax has a traditional slush-box transmission. Dodge won't be so lucky. All the eCMP cars have a battery electric version, a gas version with a manual, or the Punch hybrid system. The same 3 cylinder PSA engine is used in all petrol fueled eCMP products. Hopefully we will not see any eCMP based products sold stateside. I'm not against small three cylinder gas engines, they work great as range extenders.

We are weeks away from seeing the stretched version of the Fiat Grande Panda. That will be the biggest predictor of the next Jeep Renegade. The Fiat will have the upgraded platform, but will still use the PSA based drive train components. The important thing for a Dodge version will be the dimensions, the styling can be very different.

As an alternative we need an updated version of this.
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FIAT Adds New Tipo Cross Wagon & Panda To It's (RED) Lineup!

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Yes leave the DongFeng based cars in Europe. These are smaller that people imagine from the photos. Now I will give you the Omni was pretty compact, but that was in the days of no side impact standards and very little front to back.... so the packaging was better.

Dodge based on the SMART would be interesting but it is small also.
 
We didn't know we needed? What does that even mean? I usually know what I need and don't need. I digress. Interesting design. Will never happen.
 
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