Vauxhall Adam (& Opel Adam): GM’s new ‘MINI’ in Europe

It's the Vauxhall Adam - name after Adam Opel

GM’s MINI rivalling new small car for Europe will be the Vauxhall Adam, an odd name to celebrate the founder of Opel.

It’s been known as the Opel ‘Junior’ (and, of course, Vauxhall ‘Junior’ for the UK) as it’s been blatting round roads camouflaged with swirly paint and bolt-on panels. But now it has a name, and the name is Adam (we also got the Adam ‘writing’ out its own name on the roads of Frankfurt in a rather odd introduction to the new ‘Mini’ car – video below).

Yes, for logic we fail to understand, the new MINI rival from GM Europe is to be named after the founder of Opel – even if the name is also on a Vauxhall (actually, by rights, the Vauxhall version should really be the Vauxhall Alexander).

Vauxhall say the Adam will be a small urban car offering more personalisation than any car in its class, will come with only a three door configuration and four seats and be almost exactly the same size as a MINI.

Expect the Adam to come with a selection of small and efficient diesels and petrols and even a  three pot. The Adam will arrive at the Paris Motor Show in September and arrive in showrooms in 2013.

The Opel Adam / Vauxhall Adam is GM’s pitch at the MINI, Citroen DS3 and Fiat 500 marketplace and will arrive with prices on a par with the 500 rather than the more premium prices of the DS3 and MINI.

But will that be enough to see the Vauxhall Adam join the urban funky club successfully?

By Cars UK