With spy photos of the new Opel Adam having spread around the web like wildfire yesterday, it’s not entirely surprising that today Opel has announced official details and images of the new car. As mentioned yesterday, the Opel Adam will slot into the range below the Opel Corsa and will take on competitors like the Fiat 500, Mini and the European-market Volkswagen Up!.
While the Adam’s grille and character lines connect its design with the three-door Astra hatch, Opel describes the Adam’s face as, “a fresh and bold look that will appeal to open-minded individuals who want to defy convention with a car that’s distinctive and striking.” Among other styling highlights underlined by Opel is the so-called ‘floating roof’, which is visually disconnected from the body and can be ordered in two different shades that contrast the rest of the car. Opel say the Adam will also be the first model in the A-segment to have the option of LED daytime running lights.
The rise of personalisation in the A-segment is a trend not lost on Opel, who, like the Audi A1, Mini and Fiat 500, will be offered with an array of customization options for both the exterior and interior of the car. “No other car in this segment can be individualised as much as Adam because we are offering virtually unlimited exterior/interior colour, fabric and kit combination choices. It’s very unlikely that you’ll find two identical Adams out there,” says Mark Adams, Opel and Vauxhall Vice President of Design, who lead the team of European designers that penned the Adam.
The Opel Adam measures 3 700 mm long, 1 720 mm wide and rides on a wheelbase of 2 311 mm. These measurements are as a result of the Adam being based on a re-engineered version of the Opel Corsa platform. The Corsa’s SCCS (Small Common Components and Systems) platform was actually jointly developed by the Fiat Group and GM Europe, and is also used by the Fiat 500. Even so, the Adam’s dimensions are actually closer in size to the Mini Cooper.
The choice of engines includes a 52 kW, 1.2-litre petrol engine, or a 1.4-litre petrol engine in two states of tune: 64 kW or 74 kW. All three are mated to a five-speed manual transmission. A pair of 1.6-litre diesel engines are also expected to introduced post-launch, while an all-electric version has also been rumoured.
Inside, the Adam seats four passengers, although, we certainly hope there’s a little more space in the rear than with the Mini Cooper. A 7-inch colour display provides access to the infotainment system, which supports all manner of connectivity and a range of devices, including those with Android and Apple iOS software. Some available options include a heated steering wheel, LED-lit roof trim, and an ‘Advanced Park Assist II’ system, which searches for a parking space large enough to accommodate the car and then steers the vehicle into the spot with the driver controlling the brake, clutch and gears.
The Opel Adam will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, where after the car will enter European showrooms towards the end of the year or early 2013. What do you think of Opel’s new supermini. Are you a fan of the modern/retro combination styling, or do you prefer a more contemporary car like the Audi A1?
