Vauxhall Adam bespoke motoring

Vauxhall today announced pricing and full specification details for its new ADAM against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, prior to its official debut at the Paris Motor Show. Personalisation is what the new urban-chic model is all about and, with almost limitless trim and equipment combinations available, each and every one of the annual 6.5 million visitors to Paris’s world-renowned structure could specify an ADAM like no other. Available to order from today with prices ranging from £11,255 to £14,000 the three-door, four-seat ADAM is keenly positioned to take the fashion-led A-sector by storm. There are three trims – JAM (fashionable /colourful), GLAM (elegant/sophisticated) and SLAM (racy/sporty) – 20 different wheel designs, over a dozen interior shades, and 12 different body colours, some of which are unique to ADAM. With colour names like ‘Purple Fiction’, ‘I’ll be Black’ and ‘Men in Brown’, owners will have no trouble remembering their final choice! Vauxhall/Opel’s Paris stand (Hall 5, Stand 501) will give show-goers the chance to design their own ADAM, using on-stand visualisers to build in a combination of options like printed headliners, two tone paint, glazed roof applications, backlit facia decors and coloured wheel appliqué. There will also be the chance to sample ADAM’s premium technology, including the new IntelliLink on-board infotainment system which integrates the owner’s smart phone (Android and iOS) with the car, making internet-based applications available on the facia mounted touch screen. ‘The rate at which we’ve launched new product this year is unprecedented,’ said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. ‘ADAM is yet another example of not just a new Vauxhall, but one that takes us into a new market sector. With Ampera and Mokka, that makes three such cars this year, and next year we’ll see the Cascada convertible, too. This is a new chapter in Vauxhall’s long history, and we’re confident that it will introduce a fresh audience to the brand.’ Like all other Vauxhalls, ADAM will come with the industry-leading Lifetime Warranty, which provides a lifetime of cover for first owners, up to a maximum 100,000 miles. ENGINES Initially offered with three petrol engines (1.2-litre 70PS, 1.4-litre 87PS and 1.4-litre 100PS) all of which are available with Start/Stop technology. The most economical ADAM achieves a combined 56.5mpg and emits just 118g/km. Later in its life ADAM will also be the first Vauxhall to adopt the new generation small petrol engine featuring direct injection and forced induction plus an all-new six speed gearbox. EXTERIOR Unlike other rivals in the segment, ADAM bucks the trend for retro-based design offering a fresh, bold, striking look. Classy, sophisticated and glamorous, ADAM retains design signatures from other Vauxhalls: the crisp line around the door handle (GTC), the wing-shaped chrome grille bar (new Astra) and the blade shape in the lower doors. It will also be the first car in the fashion-led A-sector to have LED daytime running lights. Measuring almost 3.7 meters inlength,ADAM has a three-door body with a compact 2311mm wheelbase. Tracks of 1485mm at the front and 1478mm at the rear give the car a planted, solid stance, while also offering excellent on-road stability. ADAM’s three trim levels – JAM (fashionable /colourful), GLAM (elegant/sophisticated) and SLAM (racy/sporty) are merely the starting point for a high degree of personalisation. Customers then have the choice of 12 body colours, such as ‘I’ll be Black’, ‘Papa don’t Peach’, ‘Purple Fiction’, ‘James Blonde’, ‘Saturday White Fever’ and ‘Buzz Lightgreen’. The ADAM can be further customised with the application of option packs such as the ‘Two-Tone’ black and white pack, the flamboyant ‘Twisted’ pack and the bolder Extreme pack. These bespoke packages deliver unique combinations of colour and design to the roof, wheels, exterior mirror caps, logo bar and interior trim. ADAM’s distinctive ‘floating’ roof is also subject to customisation; it can remain the same colour as the body or, for a more contrasting effect it can be specified in one of three colours: a glossy ‘I’ll be Black’, a light cream ‘White my Fire’ or a dark rich ‘Men in Brown’. ADAM’s roof is also available with a fixed glazed panel. Wheels are next on the list, and with a choice of no fewer than 20 different wheel designs and colours in sizes ranging from 16-inch to 18-inch, customers will be spoilt for choice. And for those who have trouble deciding what will suit their car the best, a selection of coloured wheel clips Exterior decal packages are also available (JAM Splat, GLAM Fly and SLAM Stripes) which can be applied to door mirrors and the sides and roof of the car. INTERIOR ADAM’s cabin, if anything, has an even higher potential for personalisation than its exterior, so this section simply provides a broad overview of just some of the highlights. Décor panels on the facia and the doors can be specified in around a dozen different painted colours. These can then be coupled with coloured or LED-lit foils. These foils can be replaced at any time so the car can constantly be tailored to suit the taste of the owner or any subsequent owners. The two foils offered with backlit LED’s create a soft ambient glow, a feature which is a first in the automotive industry. This exclusive design element is combined with the ambient lighting package which illuminates the door pockets, centre console and passenger footwell. As part of this package, seven different coloured lighting settings can be selected at the touch of a button. The cabin roof can also be personalised with options ranging from a large fixed sunroof to a starlight headliner illuminated by over 60 LED lights, creating the impression of a starry night sky. Three further printed motif headliners with clouds, autumn leaves and checker-board graphics are also available. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND INFOTAINMENT ‘IntelliLink’, Vauxhall’s new infotainment system, has its debut in the ADAM, making it one of the best connected cars on the market. IntelliLink offers drivers a high degree of convenience and flexibility by bringing owners’ smartphone capabilities into the vehicle. The IntelliLink infotainment system brings content from the smartphone onto the seven-inch, high resolution, full colour touch-screen display. Connectivity is provided via USB or Bluetooth for mass storage devices, including MP3 players, iPod, iPad, etc. The system enables personal playlists, photo galleries, phone books, other stored media and data to be accessed easily via the touch-screen in the car. Videos and personalised slide shows can also be viewed on the screen when the ADAM is stationary. Selected apps that are compatible for smartphones using both Android and Apple iOS can be downloaded from the internet. For example, a navigation system app will be made available, which offers maps for Western and Eastern Europe. This app will be available in the car via the IntelliLink touch-screen allowing owners to follow guidance whilst driving, but as the app always remains on the phone, owners will also have the added benefit of continued guidance should they wish to complete journeys by foot or bike. Another useful App which will be offered for IntelliLink is Stitcher, a global podcast internet radio that lets users listen to programs live or after they have been broadcast. Once Stitcher is downloaded onto the smartphone, the ADAM owner can access more than 10,000 podcasts on demand, radio shows and live stations around the world via the IntelliLink touch-screen. ADAM which comes with DMB digital radio system as standard, also offers those who want ultimate sound an Infinity sound system with eight speakers. Another debut for ADAM is Advanced Park Assist II, a system which has never been seen before in a Vauxhall production car. Drivers engage the system with a button on the dashboard and it tells them when they reach a parking space large enough to accommodate the car. The system then automatically steers them into the parking space, with the driver only needing to control the brake, clutch and gears. APA II uses ultrasonic sensors to work its magic, and always comes in combination with Side Blind Spot Alert (SBSA). CHASSIS Complementing ADAM’s broad footprint is a well-proven and sophisticated chassis. MacPherson struts feature at the front, while a version of Vauxhall’s clever compound crank suspension sits between the rear wheels. Wheel sizes range from 16- to 18-inches, with 17- and 18-inch rims coming as standard with the more responsive sports chassis. Recognising that a majority of owners will spend much of their time driving in the city, Vauxhall’s engineers have developed a CITY mode for the electric power steering (EPS) system. By the flick of a dash-mounted switch, drivers can increase the level of power assistance at city speeds, making their ADAM easier to manoeuvre and park. All cars come as standard with Hill Start Assist (HSA) which automatically applies the car’s brakes on a gradient, until the driver releases the clutch pedal to move away. AVAILABILITY AND PRICING ADAM can be ordered now, and first cars will arrive in Vauxhall showrooms at the end of February 2013. Prices for ADAM JAM start at £11,255, moving up to £12,650 for ADAM GLAM and £13,150 for ADAM SLAM. As with all new cars ADAM will come complete with Vauxhall’s industry-leading Lifetime Warranty. From Motorin news