In the proposed Opel ADAM design, the base of the windscreen is moved forward into the hood and curved; the top of the windscreen is also moved backwards into the roof and curved, generating a three dimensional, rounded windscreen; this rounded windscreen would be better suited to the curved lines of the Opel Adam. The result would be an improvement of the interior volume, the aerodynamics and the aesthetics of the car.
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This new design is possible because its inline engine would be placed longitudinally in the middle of the central dashboard, in parallel with the driverĀ“s legs.Ā With the engine placed in mid-centre position, the Opel ADAM would also have better dynamics than any of passenger car in the market. The Opel ADAM could be based in the RWD Alpha platform of GM, already used in the Cadillac ATS, so the car could be developed in short time with existing GM components; alternatively, it could also use a FWD platform, but it would require greater modifications of the powertrain.
Design and Drawings by JoseĀ Francisco Rosales @fjrosales82
Parallel Architecture is defined by the placement of the engine in parallel with the driver's legs, below the central dashboard area. In order to maintain the minimum width, the inline engine must be installed longitudinally in the vehicle, with all the engine auxiliaries mounted in series relative to the engine. The base of the windshield is moved forward, so that the dashboard has sufficient length to allow access to the top of the engine, in order to perform maintenance operations on the cylinder heads area, by opening an access chamber on the top of the central dashboard.
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Parallel Architecture is possible today because of the evolution of the passenger cars design in recent years:
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Increased vehicle width, which means they are wide enough to place an inline engine in the proposed position.
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Improved mechanical reliability, and electronic control components, which mean that access to the engine has to be performed at the present with much less frequency than in the past.
Ā·Ā Ā Ā Ā Components placed in the central dashboard, as the ones of radio, ventilation, heating, etc. are now also of electronic control, which mean that the equipment itself could now be placed anywhere in the vehicle.
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With Parallel Architecture, the car can be designed to maximize its dynamics without compromising its aerodynamics or habitability. Similarly, both the interior and exterior design of the car is not compromised by the requirements of the engine.
A inline 4 engine at the Cadillac ATS bonnet, on the GM Alpha platform. A similar layoutĀ would be used to power the new car, designed to keep its width to a the minimum possible with the manifolds close to the engine and all the auxiliary elements places in series with it, at the front of the car. The engine would have to be moved backwards for its application in Parallel Architecture, further improving the dynamics of the vehicle.
