Here in Paris on Press Day One, there’s no hiding the importance of the new small car, the Adam, to General Motors Europe’s Vauxhall and Opel brands.

It has filled its entire stand with garishly painted examples of the three-door rival for the MINI, Fiat 500 and Citroen DS3. But with a claimed million colour and trim combinations, that’s not too hard to do.

The Adam will go on sale early next year (priced from GBP11,255 as a Vauxhall in the UK; EUR11,500 for the Opel version in Europe) although Vauxhall expects its average retail price in the UK will be much higher than that because of the vast range of personalisation possibilities.

Just like MINI experiencd back in 2001 when BMW relaunched the car as a brand. Citroen has also had a similar experience with its highly ‘optionable’ DS3.

“This won’t be cheap transport – it is a premium A-segment car,” says Mike Ableson, GM’s vice-president of engineering, of the Adam.

It makes use of modified Corsa architecture but has a new body and interior aimed at a relatively young, affluent, target clientele. Connectivity via apps downloaded onto an Apple or Android smartphone, a feature GM calls Intellilink, is expected to be one of the big selling points. It will give owners access to podcasts, internet radio and smart navigation but not all data stored on a mobile phone.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The car will be built alongside the Corsa at GM’s Eissenach plant in Germany and will initially go on sale with 1.2- and 1.4-litre current-generation Corsa petrol engines. But a new family of direct-injection turbo units varying in size from 1.0- to 1.4 litres and delivering ‘world-class efficiency’ will succeed these within 18 months. There will also be the option of a seven-speed double-clutch transmission in time.

There won’t be a diesel Adam, however. “Diesel is very low volume in this sector and emissions standards are getting tougher all the time,” said Ableson. “This affects the material cost. It’s something we are having a long-term debate about.”

Work on the Adam started only three years ago so the whole programme has been pulled together unusually quickly, even though it meant some fairly major changes at Eissenach to allow it to handle the multi-colour paint schemes and personalisation options on offer.

Despite the recent launch of Opel in Australia (where the rival MINI sells relatively well) and availability of the brand in Asian markets including Japan [where the old Leyland Mini sold well until its mid-90s demise – ed], the Adam will be a Europe-only car and GM would not be drawn at this stage on whether it will follow the lead of MINI, Fiat and Citroen in offering other body styles.

“We need to see how it does first but, from the speed we have completed this programme, you can see how quickly we can act if we want to,” said Ableson.

GM plans 23 new or refreshed models in Europe between now and 2016, including the Adam, the recently revealed Mokka compact crossover [Europe’s Korean-built version of the US/China Buick Encore also expected to be launched globally as a Chevrolet] and a medium-sized convertible to be known as the Cascada and expected to be launched at the Geneva show in 2013.

[* “Adam ‘n’ Eve” = Cockney rhyming slang for “believe” – ed]