Made cute for millenials

Something fishy is going on here...

NORMALLY, the first question people ask about a new car is how much does it cost?
In the case of the Opel Adam, the FAQ was why Adam?
The short answer: Adam Opel was the man who founded the company in 1862 and this new little car pays homage to him.
South Africans can choose from three Adam models, with either Opel’s naturally-aspirated 1,4-litre (74 kW/130 Nm) and a five-speed manual gearbox, or the smooth 1,0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine (85 kW/170 Nm) with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Thanks to rally legend Tschops Sipuka, theWheels team could enjoy the entry level 1,4 Adam, which currently costs just shy of R190k, including a five-year or 120 000 km vehicle warranty and a three-year or 60 000 km service plan. During a week of conservative city driving, this Adam’s average consumption was 8 l/100 km, which is on the high side of acceptable, but our mechanic assures us the 1 398 cc Ecotec four cylinder will make up for this relative thirst with its proven durability.
Opel brand manager at General Motors South Africa Christopher Cradock said the Adam is aimed at trend-setting image makers, and in the Wheels test crew, that guy is Amil Umraw.
Brian Basett, our pensioned-off tailgater, has, however, owned two souped-up minis in the previous century and he also wanted a go in the new millenium’s super mini.

Amil says …

If there’s one thing the Opel Adam has it’s personality.
Looking at the Adam gives me the same sensation as peeping at a cute puppy in the window of a pet shop — it’s the furry poodle in the corner that seems timid but has a wild side behind it all.
Looks aside, the Adam is a spunky little car that’s purpose built for city-slicking. It’ll get you through tiny spaces in peak traffic with ease, especially with its “City” mode that makes the car all the more manoeuvrable when taxis jam up the road.

Opel equipped it with everything you expect to be standard in a car today, but added a few bells and whistles like cruise control and park-assist, which really sets it apart from competitors in its class.
Then I spotted three imprints of a shark on a few interior panels. Baffled, I did what millenials do, and Google said that one Sunday afternoon in 2004, Opel designer and diving enthusiast Dietmar Finger was at home working on a sketch for the Corsa.
His son caught a glimpse of his sketch of the glove box, which incorporated a shark design, and thought it looked cool.
Corsa chief designer Niels Loeb agreed and now the Adam, like the Jeep Renegade, sports this new style of designer graffiti.
The Adam is, however, not the fastest fish in the ocean.
The 1,4l I tested won’t get you anywhere in a hurry and it has quite the appetite for fuel.
Designed as a two-door, the back seats are irrelevant unless the Adam’s target market is strictly for those who battle to pass the height restriction for a roller coaster.
Other than that, it promises a smooth and fun drive every time.

Brian says …

The Adam is a niche market car for the young and the young at heart. I liked the excellent build quality and stylish looks, which made people stop and stare at the vehicle and sometimes ask questions about what it was. I also liked the power of the 1,4-litre engine, which makes the car peppy and responsive.
In the interior I liked the blingy finishes, which were quite exciting, and the dashboard, which lit up like a computer game at night.
Parking in town is a pleasure and I found that I could squeeze the car into small spaces without having a problem getting out.
Inside I found the seat roomy enough for my six-foot frame, but this space was crimped from the rest of the tiny cabin, which meant the rear seats can only serve as parcel shelves with a tall person behind the wheel, while the tiny boot has space only for costumes to go skinnydipping in.
That this design is nevertheless spot on, was proven by a female friend, whose response to was “Ag siestog, it’s so CUTE!”.