SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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S is for sizzle: 2016 Opel ADAM ‘S’ 1.4 turbo

Secrets of its own

Posted: 1 July 2016

The cheat sheet
Price: R330 000
Engine: 1364 cc, DOHC, 16-valve, four-cylinder turbopetrol
Power: 110 kW at 5000 rpm
Torque: 220 Nm between 3000 and 4000 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 8.5 seconds
Maximum speed: 210 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 7.6 l/100 km
Tank: 35 litres
Boot: 170 – 484 litres
Warranty: 5 years / 120 000 km with roadside assistance
Service plan: 3 years / 60 000 km

We have written much about ADAM, Opel’s little two-door, two-plus-two (a pair of grownups and teeny twins in baby chairs), personal transportation pod. So far, there have been four – ADAM, ADAM Jam, ADAM Glam and ADAM Rocks. Plain ADAM uses a naturally aspirated 1400 cc engine, has a five-speed manual ‘box and packs a useful selection of standard equipment. Jam, Glam and Rocks are all powered by Opel’s lusty 1.0-litre three, boast six speeds and offer varying quantities of additional kit.

Now there’s a fifth; a no-holds-barred, purpose built, limited edition, hellraiser with almost 30 percent more power and torque, in-your-face visual clues and some secrets of its own. It’s called ADAM ‘S’.

Power comes from the updated and turbocharged 1364 cc edition of the Opel Family Zero engine – a far cry from the 1398 cc lump borrowed from previous Corsas and used in the plain ADAM. In this application it develops 110 kW and 220 Nm to propel the ‘S’ to 100 in 8.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 210. Maximum torque kicks in at 3000 rpm, which equals 120 km/h in top, so roll-on acceleration is good. Opel quotes an 80-120 transition time, in fifth gear, of 7.9 seconds.

But it’s more than a bigger engine. Keeping the car grounded as speed increases are some serious aerodynamic aids. A proper wing, on the trailing edge of the roof, adds up to 100 Newtons of downforce. Complementing that is a deeper front spoiler, along with side skirts to control air flow underneath.

Bigger brakes (discs front and rear) lifted from the previous-generation Corsa OPC boost stopping power, while stiffer springs front and rear, a heavier front roll bar and more rigid rear torsion beam improve handling. Bragging rights are assured with red calipers at each end.

Keeping you and co-pilot firmly in place is a pair of Recaro racing buckets with mechanical adjusters and loops for full harnesses. Black covering is in leather-like Moroccana and both offer elevation control. Continuing the racer theme are roof-colour accents for gear knob, hand brake and lower third of the steering wheel. It is highlighted with red stitching on dash and seats.

The end result is a noticeably taut and perky little car with very responsive steering and an almost too-stiff ride. You adjust to that pretty quickly, however, and then the ‘S’ car simply begs to be treated like your favourite bit of rough.

Keep the revs up around 3- to 4000, thrash that sweet-shifting box, punish the brakes and grab a handful. It responds like a spirited polo pony and the grin factor is infectious. As we say occasionally, there may be faster and more powerful cars out there, but few can match this one for fun.

ADAM ‘S’ shares most of its equipment with ADAM Rocks. That includes 225/35 R18 rubber, although wheel styling is different and, unlike Rocks, the ‘S’ car packs a Marie biscuit spare rather than a pump kit. Shared also, in a way, is the choice of just three exterior colour schemes. This car comes only with ‘twisted’ packs: Saturday White Fever or Shiny Rock, both with red roof, pillars and spoiler, or Red and Roll under Slate. Apart from that, all the expected safety and convenience kit is present.

But there’s bad news too. We used the words “limited edition” earlier. Just 50 were imported. As of this writing only about half are left, so if you want one, get it quickly.

Test car from GMSA press fleet


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This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

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