We really shouldn’t be surprised that Vauxhall has created a stunning new city car.

The Adam looks good, and will be a rival for the Audi A1 and MINI when it goes on sale costing from £11,255 to £14,000.

But it’s just the latest in a long line of smart city cars from a company which seems to have re-found its confidence in designing desirable models.

Personalisation is what the new ‘urban-chic’ model is all about. There is an almost limitless array of trim and equipment combinations available. Available to order from now, the three-door Adam is well positioned.

It is initially offered with three petrol engines (1.2 and two 1.4s) all of which are available with Start-Stop technology. The most economical Adam achieves a combined 56.5mpg and emits 118g/km. Later Adam will also be the first Vauxhall to adopt the new generation small petrol engine featuring direct injection and forced induction plus an all-new six speed gearbox.

There are three trims – Jam (fashionable/colourful), Glam (elegant/sophisticated) and Slam (racy/sporty) – with 20 different wheel designs, over a dozen interior shades, and 12 different body colours, some of which are unique to Adam. With colour names like ‘Purple Fiction’, ‘I’ll be Black’ and ‘Men in Brown’, it seems Vauxhall has a young demographic in mind.

Duncan Alred, Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director, said: “The rate at which we’ve launched new products this year is unprecedented. Adam is yet another example of not just a new Vauxhall, but one that takes us into a new market sector. With Ampera and Mokka, that makes three such cars this year, and next year we’ll see the Cascada convertible, too. This is a new chapter in Vauxhall’s long history, and we’re confident that it will introduce a fresh audience to the brand.”

Like all Vauxhalls, Adam will come with the Lifetime Warranty, which provides a lifetime of cover for first owners, up to a maximum 100,000 miles.

IntelliLink, Vauxhall’s new ‘infotainment’ system, has its debut in the Adam, making it one of the best connected cars on the market. IntelliLink offers drivers a high degree of convenience by bringing owners’ smartphone capabilities into the vehicle.

The IntelliLink infotainment system brings content from the smartphone onto the 7in high resolution, full colour touch-screen display. Connectivity is provided via USB or Bluetooth for mass storage devices, including MP3 players, iPod and iPad. The system enables personal playlists, photo galleries, phone books, other stored media and data to be accessed easily via the touch-screen in the car. Videos and personalised slide shows can also be viewed on the screen when the Adam is stationary.

The first cars will arrive in showrooms at the end of February.

Meanwhile, hot on the heels of Vauxhall’s recent pricing announcement for the Mokka SUV, is news that there will be a fourth trim line aimed at company car drivers, called Tech Line and costing £15,995. Mokka Tech Line offers company car drivers exceptional levels of standard spec, combined with low prices and low benefit-in-kind charges. Tech Line models can be found in the Astra and Insignia ranges.