“We not only set out to minimise fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, we also wanted to demonstrate that three cylinders can be just as refined as four or more,” says Vauxhall/Opel’s Chief Engineer of Small Gasoline Engines. Dr Matthias Alt.
A host of noise-reduction and engine refining measures are present, but they don’t affect the engine’s get up and go.
In both power levels it offers up 166Nm of torque, which comes in at a low 1800rpm thus giving the unit lots of flexibility, while remaining frugal, helped by such technology as start-stop as standard.
Finally the engine is attached to a new six-speed manual gearbox, tipping the scales some 30 per cent lighter than its predecessor.
ADAMs equipped with the 3-cylinder unit will arrive in showrooms in the Spring and according to Vauxhall this is the first in a whole new family of small displacement petrol engines that are on the way – which can only be good news in the never-ending battle against company car tax.