OpelOpelGermany, 1863 > present85 models
5151 photos
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will debut its compact, high style AdamOpel ADAM Gen.1Germany, 2012 > present25 versions
122 photos
at the Paris Motor Show on September 27. Because Opel is marketing the car as easy to personalize, it will have the car in a variety of colors and trims at the show. There will also be an Internet configurator at Opel's stand to allow visitors to design their own car on the show floor. 

Other stands at the Opel booth will simulate the Adam's My Media infotainment system. My Media synchs with drivers' iOS or Android phones to run downloadable apps on a 7in diagonal screen. 

The Adam is just 3.7m long and 1.72m wide. At launch it will be available with two engines in three tunes. They include a 1.2-liter with 70hp or a 1.4-liter with either 87hp or 100hp. All three engines will have an Ecoflex option that adds stop/start. A brand-new, direct injected turbocharged engine and six-speed manual is due in 2013.

The Adam will be offered in three trim levels - Jam, Glam and Slam. Each trim will have a wide variety of options including a headliner with embedded LEDs. 

Below is a list of some of the top upcoming small cars. 

Ford Fiesta

By the end of 2012 we will get to know the updated version of best-selling Ford Fiesta. The design of the new Fiesta will be presented next month at the Paris Motor Show. The model will receive a new grille, LED daytime lights and a new bonnet. The new version of the Ford Fiesta will feature new engines as well: the 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost and the 1.6-liter EcoBoost with 278hp for the ST version.

Mitsubishi Colt

Scheduled for arrival in March is the Mitsubishi  Colt, that promises to be a rival for the VW up!. The new generation that will be produced in Thailand and will have a weight below the 929kg of the up! and will try to beat the German runabout in terms of efficiency. Emissions of less than 99g/km and a fuel consumption at 3.36 l/100  are possible thanks to the new 1.0 and 1.2 three-cylinder engines with start-stop technology.

Nissan Note

So far Nissan just released the first images of the Japanese version of the new Nissan Note, but we can expect a relatively similar European model that is expected to reach markets in mid-2013. As for the new engines, the Note will use the 1.2 DIG-S engine we know from the Micra to keep emissions below the magic mark of 100g/km.

Renault Twingo

Despite only being planned for 2014, the Renault Twingo is another promising supermini. First, because it will undergo a revolution by sharing its platform with the new generation smart fortwo. It will be shorter but will have room for four people, which may indicate a rear engine set-up. Furthermore, Renault will invest in personalization and higher quality materials for a premium feel. 

Opel ADAM 1.4

While experiencing one of the biggest crises in company history, Opel has released a compact model in order to compete with the Fiat 500 and MINI. ADAM was designed to attract new young consumers to the brand and offers a true battalion of customization combinations. The launch is scheduled for early 2013.

Renault Clio

Renault is preparing to launch the new generation of one of the most popular cars in its range at the Paris Salon in September. The new Clio reaches the market in early 2013, has a sportier design and promises to battle for domination on the urban streets. The model has the ambition of being the most economical and most efficient in terms of CO2 emissions in its class.

BMW i3

Already talked about for quite some time, every day brings us closer to the launch of the first BMW i-model, the i3. This electric city car is launched in early 2013 and will be the the first step by the German luxury brand towards electric mobility.

MINI

In the spring 2013 comes the third generation of one of the most popular cars in the mini segment. One of the major changes for the new generation MINI is its size that grows in order to increase the interior space and improve driving. The new platform will be shared with the new BMW 1 Series hatchback. The engines will all be renewed except for the updated Cooper S and JCW.

Renault Zoe

Renault's Zoe promises to be a revolutionary model when it comes to electric cars in the mini-segment. With more autonomy than other similar models, the Zoe also has a price-advantage. With the option of renting the battery for a monthly fee, the price of the model drops and Renault expects a sales boost when it reaches the market later this year.

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