A new-look city car revealed by Vauxhall today will 'herald a sea-change' in how we view small cars, according to the manufacturer.
The Vauxhall Adam has been revealed as the new, smallest car in Vauxhall's range and with it comes in-car technology and customisation options above anything seen before in the affordable small car market.
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The emphasis is very much on style over practicality in the new Vauxhall Adam, with a 'floating roof' design and contrasting body and roof colours offered with all versions.
In fact, Vauxhall is trading on the prospect of no two Adam cars being the same, indicating there are over one million different styling options once body and roof colours, interior trims and optional equipment are taken into account.
Side 'blades', a distinctive new grille, LED daytime running lights and a completely new two-tone interior are all introduced to appeal to fashion-conscious younger buyers, according to the brand.
Some of the Adam's more ingenious additions include an LED-lit starlight roof trim and a top-of-the-range infotainment system complete with seven-inch colour touch screen in a new-look, tech-focused cabin.
The system supports new media sources such as Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity with Android-based systems and Apple iOS devices, giving drivers access to internet apps, GPS navigation and more.
Never previously seen in a Vauxhall production model, the Adam will have 'Advanced Park Assist II', a dashboard-activated system which automatically parks to car in a suitable space by manipulating gears and pedals without driver input.
Vauxhall has announced three trim levels for the Adam: Jam (fashionable/colourful), Glam (elegant/sophisticated) and Slam (racy/sporty).
Despite the unorthodox names, Vauxhall is hoping targeting high-specification technology and customisable options is the way to win over younger buyers after the success of the Fiat 500 and Mini brands in the UK.
However, Vauxhall also has an eye on running costs with a series of petrol engines designed to offer better fuel economy than its key rivals.
The Adam is available with a choice of three efficient ecoFLEX four-cylinder petrol engines from launch; a 1.2-litre 70PS, plus two 1.4-litre engines with either 87PS or 100PS with optional Start/Stop technology.
The Adam will have an initial five-speed manual gearbox, with the manufacturer promising an all-new six-speed gearbox on later models with a next-gen small petrol engine, featuring direct injection and forced induction.
The Adam is a compact city car, measuring at 3.7 metres in length and 1.72 metres in width. Wheel sizes range from 16- to 18-inch, and cars that are specified with 17 or 18-inch rims come as standard with the lowered sports chassis.
The Adam comes with Lifetime Warranty, which covers first owners for the lifetime of the car, or up to 100,000 miles.
Vauxhall Adam prices are expected to be in the region of £10,000 and a full production version will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in September.
Written by John Meadowcroft