Opel has ditched the camouflage tape and fully revealed the Adam, its new subcompact hatchback. General Motors’ European wing will publicly debut the Opel Adam this fall at the Paris Motor Show, before putting the car on sale in January 2013.
The hatchback is based on a shortened version of the Opel Corsa platform. At 145.7 inches long and 67.7 inches wide, it’s mid-way between the sizes of the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 hatchbacks. The Adam has a much bolder design than those cars, with scalloped doors, a curving and creased hood and fascia, and a roofline that drops dramatically behind the B-pillar. Turbine-look wheels, wing-shaped running lights, and the unique inset door handles first seen on the Opel Astra GTC are all standard. The dark pillars and contrast-color roof are meant to give the roof a floating appearance. Wheel sizes range from 15 to 18 inches.
The three-door shell hides a smart interior with a range of technologies that, until recently, were only available on larger and pricier cars. The instrument cluster, along with much of the switchgear,is surrounded by neat chrome rings. Options include a seven-inch touch screen that can interface with Apple iPhone and Android smartphones, a self-parking system, a blind-spot warning system, and a heated steering wheel. All models get hill-start assist, and a “City” button that increases the electric power steering assist for low-speed maneuvering.
There will be three whimsically named trim levels for the Opel Adam: Jam is said to be “unconventional, fashionable and colorful,” Glam is “more elegant, refined and sophisticated,” while Slam will be “energetic and sporty.” The hatchback can be further customized by choosing from one of three roof colors, a multitude of interior designs, and reportedly as many as 25 exterior colors. There’s even a unique “starlight” headliner that features twinkling LEDs.
The Opel Adam will launch with three inline-four gasoline engines: a 1.2-liter with 70 hp, a 1.4-liter with 84 hp, and a 1.4-liter with 100 hp. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and the optional EcoFLEX package adds an engine stop/start system. Opel promises that the Adam will eventually be available with a new, turbocharged and direct-injected gasoline engine and six-speed manual transmission.
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