Vauxhall

ADAM/ADAM ROCKS AIR

Fun, funky and fashionably trendy – the Vauxhall ADAM is an instant attention-grabber. Available in a choice of three trims – Jam, Glam and Slam every ADAM can be truly unique.

Test Drive

Vauxhall ADAM ROCKS AIR

With 100,000 European sales under its belt there’s certainly no denying the all-round appeal of the fun and funky Vauxhall ADAM.

And now the company has really upped the ante with the ADAM ROCKS AIR which offers a toughened crossover body style, raised chassis, wider stance plus an electric folding canvas roof that opens in just seven seconds and closes in eight seconds for hours and hours of open-top fun.

Personalisation options are a very important feature of the ADAM’s success and when it was launched owners could choose from more than a million trim and specification options and that meant buyers could really stamp their identity on the car. And there are options galore on the new model too.

It is priced from £14,695 and is the first Vauxhall to be powered by the company’s highly impressive all-new 115PS 1.0-litre ECOTEC three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a new six-speed manual gearbox.

And the figures cannot fail to impress as the ADAM ROCKS AIR can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 9.9 seconds with a top speed of 121mph. Yet it still manages to deliver combined fuel efficiency of 59mpg with carbon emissions of 114g/km on 17-inch wheels.

Buyers have the choice of two other petrol-driven engines – a 1.2-litre 70PS and a 1.4-litre 87PS. Both these engines are mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and at this stage there are no plans to introduce a diesel option.

The car is very generously equipped and includes as standard the likes of a seven speaker sound system, 17-inch alloys, remote central locking, CD player, DAB radio, tinted windows, LED lights and a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel.

And it also features a state-of-the-art intelliLink infotainment system as a £275 optional extra and this brings Android and Apple iOS smartphone functions to the vehicle.

It offers USB and Bluetooth connectivity, audio streaming, a seven-inch high-definition colour touchscreen, a range of apps and a whole lot more besides.

And of course, an ADAM wouldn’t be an ADAM without lots of ways of personalising the car. So with that in mind the ROCKS AIR’s cabin has its own distinctive character with two new specially-created interior trims which alter the instrument cluster, seat and door panel colours and other trim elements.

One of the trims has been lifted from the ROCKS AIR concept model revealed last year and features Brandy shaded fabric seats and door panels, a leather steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake.

The other trim boasts a Sweet Coffee design with rich dark brown seats in a black cabin trimmed with bright blue stitching.

So it would be fair to say the ROCKS AIR certainly looks the business and is richly equipped but how does it handle when put through its paces?

The answer is exceptionally well indeed. I tested out the new 1.0-litre turbo model with 115PS priced at £16,695 – increased to £19,800 with a number of optional extras added. One of these was the Winter Pack costing £215 which introduces heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Also included were 18-inch alloys which meant a slight reduction in economy with combined fuel efficiency of 55.4mpg and carbon emissions of 119g/km.

But options and special packs aside, the really exciting aspect is definitely that new powertrain.

Despite being a three-cylinder engine, there is certainly no high-pitched whine at any point and the endless supply of power on tap cannot fail to impress.

But possibly the greatest accolade of this engine is the acceleration mid-range. Even on steep and lengthy inclines there is so much power at your disposal and there never seems to be any slack point in gear changes when the power levels drop off at all.

In busy traffic, the ADAM ROCKS AIR cruises along with ease drawing plenty of attention from onlookers and out on the faster lanes it eats up the Tarmac.

In fact, it’s an incredibly easy car to drive and it’s clear to see why this engine is going to be offered in the new Corsa with Astra options to follow at a later date.

The road-holding is flawless and although you can expect to feel the occasional bump or two – probably down to the larger wheels – the ride is fairly smooth.

Like most hatchbacks, the legroom in the back is quite limited, but that aside it was difficult to find fault with the car.

Despite being kitted out with a canvas roof, there is very little noise within the cabin. That’s because the roof has been acoustically tuned for noise insulation and the three-layer fabric has been tested for weather-proofing and durability. It can also be operated on the move at speeds of up to 85mph which means you won’t be caught out by any unexpected showers.

Vauxhall has fitted an impressive range of safety features to the car, including electric power steering complete with a dedicated City mode which, at the touch of a button, increases the power assistance at lower speeds. Also standard are anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, emergency brake assist, hill start assist, cornering brake control and numerous airbags.

Buyers can add additional safety packs which introduce the likes of Automatic Park Assist which not only identifies a suitable parking space but automatically parks the car with the driver controlling the acceleration, braking and gear shifts. This option costing £450 also includes Blind Spot Alert.

All in all, the latest addition to the ADAM range is a great little three-door hatchback that is just as at home in the city or out on faster roads and motorways. It’s packed with technology, is economical to run and is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone who drives it.

Test Drive

Vauxhall ADAM

It may be the company’s first venture into the highly competitive and style-driven A-segment, but Vauxhall’s stunning new city car – the ADAM – is making a massive impact.

First impressions are vital and this car – which can be personalised a staggering four billion-plus ways – is guaranteed to stop onlookers in their tracks.

The ADAM looks brilliant from all angles and despite its classy appearance, there is an air of cheeky, mischief-making fun about the car.

Attention-grabbing design features include very slim headlights with low positioned indicators, a clam-shell bonnet which broadens the car’s stance, a floating roof design and a new grille with the Vauxhall emblem sitting boldly on the brand bar. The only hint to the model’s name is the word ADAM placed subtly next to the C pillar.

The car will be taking on the likes of the Fiat 500 and MINI One and Vauxhall bosses believe 60 per cent of buyers will be female with 93 per cent of sales coming from the fleet market, but just who will be buying the ADAM?

Ian Mitchell, Brand Manager for the ADAM, said: “It will be people with a fascination for new technologies. Those that are defined by lifestyle, not by age. They will be stylish, trend-setting, expressive and image-conscious.”

Customers can choose from three trim levels – the Jam for the fashion-minded, the Glam for the elegant and sophisticated look and finally, the Slam for the racy, sports type.

There is a choice of three powertrains – 1.2 70PS, 1.4 87PS and 1.4 100PS. All cars are petrol-powered and they feature a five speed manual transmission.

And the ADAM will even leave you on speaking terms with your bank manager as prices start from just £11,255 for the 1.2 70PS in Jam trim and rise to £14,000 for the 1.4 100PS model in Slam spec.

With so many ways to personalise the car, it is possible to make each ADAM truly unique.

Options include exterior paintwork colours, interior colours, wheel styles, interior foils (inserts on the dashboard, door panels and gearstick), dozens of variety packs and even roof liners.

There is actually one that features 64 LED lights – the only other car to offer this is a Rolls Royce!

Another first for the Vauxhall ADAM is IntelliLink. This system links your smart phone to the car thanks to a downloadable app and provides satellite navigation via the crystal clear 7-inch LCD touchscreen monitor.

Experts believe the most popular model will be the 1.4 87PS car in Glam trim priced at £12,975 so that was the Adam we put through its paces – it didn’t disappoint.

The car looked stunning – it was stylish, swanky and bold without being garish and once inside it’s impossible not to be wowed by the build-quality and number of top notch techno treats at your disposal.

All ADAM models are feature-rich with creature comforts, but the test car was equipped with all the bells and whistles which bumped the asking price from £13,270 to £16,560.

It boasted premium quality leather upholstery with really comfortable seats that can be heated. These contrasted beautifully with the deep purple covered dashboard and flashes of glossy trim throughout the cabin.

As well as the more instantly recognisable specifications such as a a great sound system compatible with all modern devices and electric climate control, the car also had some pretty advanced technology such as a heated steering wheel, advanced park assist which makes even the most novice driver look an accomplished expert and a CITY mode which lightened the steering in busy traffic.

Throughout the lengthy test drive incorporating busy city centre traffic and faster open roads, the ADAM performed wonderfully well.

Road-holding was excellent and cabin noise relatively low even at higher speeds.

The 1.4-litre engine delivered plenty of oomph as the car accelerated smoothly through the five speed transmission.

It can reach 62mph from a standing start in 12.5 seconds and tops out at 109mph. Combined fuel efficiency is 55.4mpg and emissions just 119g/km.

Passenger comfort levels are very good although, like most city cars, legroom in the rear is rather limited.

The boot is compact, but can easily cope with a weekly supermarket run and split-folding rear seats means that storage capacity can be increased if needed.

Vauxhall has kitted out the car with a very comprehensive range of safety features including anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme, six airbags and plenty more besides.

And when you factor in the Vauxhall’s unbeatable 100,000-mile lifetime warranty, the ADAM is guaranteed to attract a whole new fan-base to the brand.