Opel officially unveils baby Adam
2012-07-11 12:38
DRIVING A NEW ERA: Opel's all-new Adam city car could be the trick to help the embattled brand regain its footing.
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Opel's all-new Adam is set to take the stylish A segment by storm once it is launched at the 2012 Paris auto show. Watch out, Fiat 500!
The all-new Adam will have its official reveal at the Paris auto show
starting September 29, 2012, but Opel has decided to whet our collective
appetite with appropriately trendy pictures and some key details.
Image gallery
Taking a swipe at chic city cars such as Fiat’s 500, the Adam has its
sights firmly trained on sophisticated, city dwellers who consider their
cars as an extension of their personalities.
The Adam will come equipped with a number of technologies more familiar
to higher-end sedans, such as an infotainment system that integrates the
owner’s smartphone and displays content on its 7” high-res, full colour
touch screen.
ALWAYS CONNECTED
Other media sources such as MP3 players, iPods and tablets can also be easily connected via Bluetooth and USB connectivity.
Opel’s also taken a novel approach to finishes in the Adam with three
“trim moods or worlds” – Jam, the automaker says, unconventional and
colourful, Glam more elegant and sophisticated, and Slam, for those with
“energetic and sporty attitudes”. Owners could, however, choose to
further personalise their Adams in a number of other ways.
The Adam’s bold design, with its “floating” roof, chrome signatures and
LED head- and taillamp clusters (said to be a first for the A segment),
also allows it to stand out in the Opel line-up.
The compact three-door Adam (it’s just 3.7m long) seats four people.
On-board technology includes Advanced Park Assist that allows the car to
measure and select a parking space and park the Adam while the driver
controls the clutch and brake, Side Blind Spot Alert, electrical power
steering with a City mode for increased assistance at lower speeds and
the latest generation electronic stability programme incorporating
functions such as hill start assist.
The Adam rides on a MacPherson strut and torsion beam suspension
arrangement. Wheel sizes range from 15 to 18” although those fitted with
rims 17” and up come standard with a Sports chassis.
MORE POTENCY IN STORE
Safety equipment includes front, side and curtain airbags, and two sets of Isofix mountings for child seats.
The Adam will be offered with three petrol engines – a 51kW 1.2, and
64kW and 74kW 1.4 – all mated to a five-speed manual transmission. All
powertrains include Opel’s EcoFlex pack that includes start/stop
technology.
Opel also mentioned a new small turbocharged petrol engine, with direct
injection and a six-speed manual transmission will be introduced in the
Adam line-up a little later.
The all-new Opel Adam, which will be officially unveiled at the 2012
Paris auto show (September 29 to October 14), is unlikely to come to
South Africa any time soon. “There are no current plans to bring the
Opel Adam to market here in SA,” GMSA said.
