Opel/Vauxhall Adam Rocks – tough looks, canvas roof

Vauxhall Adam Rocks-07

The production Opel/Vauxhall Adam Rocks (Opel in Europe, Vauxhall in the UK) will make its world debut at Geneva next month, one year after the concept car appeared at the Swiss motor show. The Adam Rocks is a tougher-looking open top variant of the Adam city car, GM Europe’s three-door hatch aimed at the style conscious.

Compared with other members of the Adam family, the parkour-inspired Rocks is taller and wider, with a chassis that is raised by 15 mm. Parts of the chassis have been modified or re-tuned, including dampers, springs, rear suspension geometry, and steering. The wheels – 17- or 18-inch alloys that can be personalised with new wheel clips – are large for such a small car.

Protective, anthracite-coloured cladding is wrapped around the Adam Rocks. The front trapezoidal grille is embedded in the cladding, while contrasting, satin chrome ‘boomerang’ elements frame the front fog lamps/indicator housings and the reverse/fog lamps at the rear. Silver skid plates at both ends plus a chrome exhaust complete the exterior design. The Goldbusters yellow paint seen here is new.

Vauxhall Adam Rocks-02

The electric folding canvas roof (three-layer fabric, neoprene centre for weatherproofing and durability) is operated via a button and folds back neatly on to the C pillars in just five seconds. GM says that the roof has no negative impact on body stiffness or the functionality – the boot keeps the full opening of a hatchback and volume remains unchanged. It is available in three colours – Black, Sweet Coffee or Light Oak.

Adam Rocks is the first model to feature Opel/Vauxhall’s new 1.0-litre Ecotec three-cylinder engine. Said to raise the bar for three-pot engine refinement, the direct injection turbo unit delivers 115 PS and 166 Nm of torque, close to what Ford’s 1.0 Ecoboost makes. There’s also a 90 PS version of the engine.

Both engines are mated to a new six-speed manual gearbox with a compact package design. During its development, focus was on efficiency via reduced friction and “benchmark shifting” that is comfortable, precise and smooth.

Production will start in Germany in August, with a target to reach European showrooms by the summer.

Adam Jam, Slam and Glam

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

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