By: Peter Machemba
They say dynamite comes in small packages but very few people can explain the size of dynamite that is contained in a small package. At first glance, the Opel Adam S looks quite reserved but make no mistake because under the hood it is certainly carrying some serious dynamite in the form of a 1.4 liter turbo charged engine.
Opel exclusively offers the Adam as a two-door hatchback, but the lineup is divided into several sub-models. Adam S stands out from the standard Adam with a body kit that includes a deeper front bumper, side skirts, and a roof-mounted spoiler. Critics find the kit too boy racer-ish; they’ve got a point, but it looks much better in person than in photos.
"S" has to be the most overused letter in all of auto-dom — "R" is a close second but it actually means something here. The Adam S gets a 110 KW, 220 NM 1.4-liter turbo engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. Other enhancements a specially-tuned chassis, performance brakes, Recaro seats, a sport suspension and you know, the usual go-fast stuff.
The infotainment system is both more straight-forward to navigate and more responsive to input, but I wish that Opel would replace the TFT screen with a high-resolution unit that doesn’t look like it came off of a 1990s VCR.
You might be wondering why Opel didn’t slap an “OPC” badge on the hotter Adam S and call it a day. My guess is the S isn’t extreme enough to be considered a member of the OPC lineup.
Highs
- Fun to drive on twisty roads
- Easy to drive in the city
- Grown-up interior
- Stylish without being cute
- Unusable rear seats
- Small trunk
If your taste for the road needs performance that goes above and beyond, the Adam S is the real deal.
