BREAK OUT: OPEL ADAM!

The new Opel ADAMis named after the company brand founder, Adam Opel. It’s the upcoming shiny entry-level model that to us, looks like it wants to compete with the likes of MINIand Audi A1, rather than its target peers like the Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Spark.

At 3.7 metreslong, the ADAM really is quite tiny. That’s because it’s aimed at trendy urban dwellers who don’t travel such long distances. These folks still enjoy their cars though, and are also quite in tune with the world of technologyas it is today. Hence Opel promises some very exciting features that are either only found in bigger, more expensive cars, or just don’t exist in cars at all. Period.

One such tech is the infotainmentsystem that allows some smart phonecontent to be displayed on the 18cmcolour screen on the dashboard. Stuff like internet applications and pictures will be displayed straight from the phone onto the screen and be accessible from there.

The other thing is that this ADAM is very personalisable. In fact, it’s such that even marques like Rolls-Rolls and Bentley would be envious at the amount of personalisation these young mass buyer will be able to access. According to Opel, the interior can be mixed and matched based on three styles: JAM; unconventional, fashionable and colourful, GLAM offers a more elegant, refined and sophisticated setting and SLAM appeals to those with energetic and sporty attitudes. Each comes with its own choice of interior, exteriorand roof colours.

Appropriately named Opel Vice President of Design Mr Mark Adams, explains: “No other car in this segment can be personalised as much as the Opel ADAM because we are offering virtually unlimited exterior/interior colour, fabric, decor and kit combination possibilities. It’s unlikely our customers will see another car like theirs.”

Beneath the bonnet will be two launch engines with three power outputs. One is a 1.2-litrewith 51kW, while the other is a 1.4-litre worth 64kW and 74kW. They will be accompanied by a 5-speed manual gearbox. Later on Opel says a small turbo unit will join them, with its 6-speed manual. Could that be the ADAM OPC perhaps?

We sincerely hope that General Motors South Africa is quietly working at bringing this car over to Mzansi. At the right price they could easily shift over 400 units a month.