New Opel Adam Officially Unveiled, Ready to Take on the Fiat 500 and Mini [30 Photos]

We don’t know if Fiat should be flattered or annoyed by Opel’s (and Vauxhall’s) attempt to recreate the 500’s success in more ways than one with its new “urban-chic small car” named Adam, which coincidentally or not, is the name of the company’s founder, Adam Opel.

While some will see traces of the Fiat 500’s design here and there and even more so at the rear – as evidenced by our readers’ comments in our previous story on the car, GM’s European brand is quick to point out in its press blurb that “unlike other rivals”, the Adam has a modern feel to it:

“But unlike other rivals in the segment, ADAM bucks the trend for retro-based design with 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,” says Opel.

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.

The German carmaker and its British counterpart say that the Adam will be the first model in the A-segment to have the option of LED daytime running lights.

Borrowing a page or two from the BMW Group’s Mini and the Fiat 500 models, Opel will offer 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 Vauxhal Vice President of Design, who lead the team of European designers that penned the Adam.

Opel and Vauxhall are marketing the Adam as an upscale proposal in the mini car segment, something that becomes evident from the stylish interior that can seat four passengers.

Among other gizmos, the city car gets a top-of-the-range infotainment system with a seven-inch color screen designed to support new media sources, including Bluetooth, as well as connectivity for smartphones with Android or Apple iOS software.

Customers will also be able to opt for a heated steering wheel – another first in the class, as well as a LED-lit starlight roof trim.

Other tech goodies include the Advanced Park Assist II system, which searches for a parking space large enough to accommodate the car on the road and then at the touch of a button, steers the vehicle into the spot with the driver controlling the brake, clutch and gears.

The Adam will come equipped with standard front, side and head curtain airbags, as well as dual seat belt pre-tensioners for front occupants and two sets of ISOFIX points to attach child seats on the 50:50 split foldable rear bench.

The new mini is based on a shorter, re-engineered version of the Corsa’s SCCS platform (Small Common Components and Systems), which itself was jointly developed by the Fiat Group and GM Europe. Among other cars, it also underpins the Fiat 500.

At 3,700mm (145.7 inches) long and 1,720mm (67.7 inches) wide with a wheelbase of 2,311mm (91 inches), the Adam is closer in size to the 3,723mn long Mini (wheelbase: 2,467mm) than the 3,546mm long Fiat 500 (wheelbase: 2,300mm).

Suspension-wise, there are MacPherson struts up front and a compound crank system at the rear, while Opel will also offer a lowered ‘sports’ chassis. A latest generation ESP system with a Hill Start Assist function will be standard on all models.

At launch, buyers will be able to choose from three ecoFLEX four-cylinder petrol engines including a 1.2-litre unit deliver 69hp (70PS), plus two 1.4-litre engines with either 86hp (87PS) or 99hp (100PS). All engines are coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox and will be optionally available with Start/Stop technology.

In terms of trim grades, the Adam will offer customers three options…colorfully named JAM (“fashionable/colourful”), GLAM (“elegant/sophisticated”) and SLAM (“racy/sporty”) (insert ‘thank you mam’ joke here).

Following its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in September, the Adam will go on sale across Europe towards the end of the year or early 2013, depending on the market.

PHOTO GALLERY