Opel's new city car, which recent reports suggest will be called the Opel Adam, has been spotted undergoing high-speed testing around the Nurburgring in Germany.

The German manufacturer is set to reveal the first official details of its new Fiat 500 rival, which may also be called the Opel Junior or Opel Allegra, on May 8, before it goes on sale in Europe in early 2013.

At 3.7m long, the three-door-only hatchback is around 150mm longer than the Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Up! and, like those two, will have four seats rather than five.

The Adam is based on a shortened version of a new platform that will underpin the next-generation Opel Corsa, and is set to share a number of new three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with its larger sibling.

Prices for the Opel Adam are tipped to start below 10,000 euros ($12,700), putting it in direct competition with the Up!, which starts a 9850 euros ($12,500) in Germany.

The Adam name would pay tribute to the company's founder, Adam Opel, who founded Adam Opel AG in Russelsheim, Germany in 1862.

Opel will launch in Australia in the third quarter of this year with three models, Corsa, Astra and Insignia.

Car Advice