Dodge Omni

     

The Omni/Horizon was designed by Chrysler Europe (a merger of Simca and Rootes Group). The Omni and Horizon were the first North American mass-produced cars with a transverse mounted engine, and the first front-drive subcompact four-door hatchbacks made in America; they were also the first front wheel drive Chryslers, and the first to use a semi-independent rear suspension, with trailing arms and coil springs. The construction was unibody, with an independent iso-strut coil-spring front suspension.
In 1990, there was a 1" diameter front stabilizer bar, with no rear stabilizer bar. Rack and pinion steering was available in both manual and power versions. Base wheels in 1990 were 13 inches, not unusual for the day, with ride-oriented P165/80 tires softening the stiff suspension.

While the American Omni/Horizon started out with European engines - some designed by Chrysler Europe, but officially called "Peugeot" because Peugeot bought Chrysler Europe; others designed and sold by Volkswagen - most were eventually equipped with the standard corporate 2.2, once production got up to speed. With fuel injection, the base 2.2 generated (depending on the year) about 93 horsepower with peak torque of 122 lb-ft at only 3,200 rpm. The Volkswagen engines, at 1.7 liters, were modified versions of the Golf/ Rabbit/Jetta powerplant. The three sets of engines - VW, “Peugeot,” and Chrysler - all had different displacements.
In Europe, Chrysler and Talbot Horizons used Simca engines, in 1.1, 1.3, and 1.4 liter sizes through their full lifespan.
The Omni/Horizon were internally labelled L-bodies (A included Valiant and Duster, B included Belvedere and Charger, C included big Chryslers, E was Challenger/Barracuda, etc.) [This section written by Allpar staff]

Geoffrey Lee noted: “This car helped pull Chrysler from the edge of oblivion. However, in crash tests, this car did not fare well. If you were involved in a front end collision of any type, survival stats were not that great, and crash-ability tests were one of the factors that lead to the decision to close this model down."

History of the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon

    

The year is 1978. Chrysler Corporation attempts to stay alive, making marketing changes in their product line. Chrysler continues to offer larger cars in weakening economic times. On November 2, 1978, the new Chrysler president, Lee Iacocca, replaces chairman John Riccardo.
The first front-wheel-drive subcompact car ever to be built in America hits the showroom...the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon. [Webmaster notes:] Based on the Horizon of Chrysler Europe, [End note]the Omni/Horizon would help to save the corporation from bankruptcy. For once, Chrysler displayed a product that was right for the times.

The Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon were probably the first economical cars Chrysler had ever produced. Similar to Volkswagen's trend-setting Rabbit, these were four-door hatchback models that offered an enhanced sense of practicality, roominess, and softer ride. Powered by a 4-cylinder (VW) 1.7-liter overhead-cam engine, it developed 75 horsepower at first. Consumers were eager, buying 189,000 total in its first year introduction - mostly Plymouth Horizons, with relatively few Omni moving out the door. The 1978 Horizon had a mere 99 inch wheelbase and 165 inch length, but the hatchback design and front wheel drive maximized interior and cargo space; cornering was very good and ride was smoother than most competitors. The meager 2,167 pound weight (while still much heavier than the Corolla) allowed the 70 horsepower, 105 cubic inch engine to stay peppy and helped gas mileage. A year later, the Horizon TC3 would join the standard Horizon, and the Fury would quietly fade away.

The stunning success of the Horizon didn’t surprise Burton Bouwkamp, one of its creators. He wrote, “We knew it was a great car and attractively priced. It ran eleven years with very few changes. We must have built around 2,500,000 Omnis and Horizons. It's still a good car. If we had modernized and improved it I think it would still be around.”

Chrysler Alpine: the European-American small car that never got a chance (by Burton Bouwkamp)
The boss (President) in 1974 was Lynn Townsend. He sent George Butts (Vice President of Product Planning), Len Piconke (Director of Marketing), and I (Director of Product Planning) to Europe to find a small car for Chrysler USA. We worked Monday through Thursday at the Chrysler-Europe Technical Center at Whitley near Coventry, England and flew home on Friday. We worked Saturday and Sunday at Highland Park on the presentation for Monday AM.
We recommended that Chrysler build the Chrysler Europe C6 in the USA. After our presentation, Lynn said, “I sent a bunch of high priced executives to Europe to find a subcompact and they come back with a stupid blankety-blank recommendation like this!” He never explained why he felt that way — too expensive and not profitable enough I guess. 

     

The C6 (Chrysler Alpine) was only a clay model in 1974, and it won Europe's Car of the Year award in 1976 — beating out BMW, Ford, VW, etc. It was the right product for Chrysler America!
In 1975 I was made head of the Whitley Technical Center and we did another European Car of the Year in 1978 — the Chrysler Horizon. Lynn Townsend had retired and Chrysler decided to build that design in the USA. The American version (Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon) was Motor Trend’s Car of the Year in 1978. Between Europe and the USA we built more than 3,000,000 Horizon/Omnis over the next ten years. Chrysler USA could have had a winner two years earlier.

Europian Horizons and how the Volkswagen Rabit imitated the Horizon's predecessor

The Omni and Horizon were in production between 1978 through 1990. Throughout the eighties, Omnis never sold even nearly as well as the Horizon did. In 1979, a sunroof became available for both models. In 1981, a new 2.2-liter 84 horsepower 4-cylinder became available and the term "Miser" was mentioned for the basic model with 1.7 engine, presumably to compete with the new, cheap Ford Escort. Throughout 1981 and 1982, an extremely limited number of Euro-models were offered with blackout trim in the package. The Custom package replaced the Miser and Euro models.

In 1979, the sportier-looking Charget/Turismo was introduced (also known as TC3 and 024), the first car to use the Charger name since the 1970s muscle car was dropped. Popular Mechanics would later test the new Shelby Charger against the original.
For 1981, electric-fan airflow was improved with a fiberglass-filled propylene fan, with a 1 inch larger diameter; the radiator was enlarged in frontal area and thickness.
For 1982, a linkless sway bar was used: this essentially used rubber isolators to hold the sway bar to the lower control arm and crossmember. Chrysler claimed this reduced body roll when cornering, and made the ride more comfortable.

    

In 1984, an SE (sport-edition) model was created with two-tone coloring available, and the basic styling that would continue until 1990 was put into place. The instrument cluster was revised, and blackwalls became standard. Most significantly, 1984 brought the new Omni GLH — for "Goes-Like-Hell." This lightweight Dodge Omni had the 2.2 liter engine with turbocharged power. Omni GLH and GHL-S page.
For 1984, the Horizon was aimed at domestic buyers looking for a small-but-not-too-small car, and import buyers. It arguably offered the best value for the money, with a good level of performance, gas mileage, and interior space. The Horizon, even in base model (with "blackout" exterior), was more than entry-level transportation. New features included a five-speed stick, 165/50R13 tires standard, various cosmetic changes inside and out (with new gauge cluster), Rallye instrument panel option with full gauge cluster, new seats, and four-spoke steering wheel. A "Shelby" version of the 2.2 was available with 110 hp.

1986 simply brought about a center-mounted stop-light. Dodge again got the hot Omni GLH, Plymouth the ordinary version; both had coupe versions, the Turismo and Charger. These were the only Chrysler vehicles to have semi-independent rear suspensions; the Caravan and Gran Fury used standard four-leaf spring rear suspensions, and the Reliant and Caravelle used a trailing-arm rear suspension.
The 2.2 liter engine made the Omni and Horizon quick, but still turned out 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway (with manual transmission). The base 1.6 engine beat that with 31/39. Radio options were similar to the brands’ top of the line cars; electronic spark and fuel control were standard. Base models had a speedometer, voltmeter, and fuel gauges, with dummy lights for other functions, but an optional instrument panel was identical to the attractive, high-end design used on Turismo. In a break with the past, the wipers/washers were on a stalk.

1987 brought the "America" program, which improved quality of production and helped cut costs by offering a single price with limited options (in Canada, the Omni America was called the Omni Expo). The instrument cluster was revised with tachometer, oil pressure and voltage gauges added. The 1.7-liter was dropped; only a Chrysler-built 2.2-liter with 96 bhp was offered. The Omni America was the lowest-priced car in its class in America.

In 1988, fuel injection on all Omnis and Horizons was standard, with the 2.2 engine producing 93 bhp — the rating it would keep for the next six years.
1989 brings some changes to the engine which allow for quieter and smoother running. Major service pointers were highlighted with paint for checking fluid levels.

Finally in 1990, the America edition was dropped. In its last year, a driver-side airbag was added, along with rear-seat shoulder belts and a revised climate-control system.