IF YOU plan to take on the might of the Mini then you need to raise your game.

And the super-successful Oxford-built phenomenon is clearly the target Vauxhall has in its sights with its funky new supermini.

Like BMW’s MINI, Vauxhall’s ADAM ROCKS AIR spells its name with shouty capital letters which have no place in print.

And like the Mini and the Fiat 500, the Adam Rocks makes personalising the car a major feature.

Described as an ‘urban mini-crossover’ the car is designed to stand out from the crowd. That’s achieved with a range of bold exterior colours and lots of protective, anthracite-coloured cladding.

It gets even more interesting inside with the availability of ‘peanut-coloured’ fabric seats and door panels, leather steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake in the same colour, and a “Surf” décor trim.

Alternatively you can go for ‘Coffee Bean’ design – rich, dark brown seats in a black cabin trimmed with bright blue stitching.

All this funky modernity rides on a chassis that has been lifted by 15mm, with parts of the chassis modified or re-tuned – including dampers, springs, rear suspension and steering.

The higher, wider looks are matched by a choice of whopping great 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels.

Vauxhall was keen to make this car an openair hit for the summer, so up top is a three-layer, folding canvas roof with a neoprene centre that opens up the cabin to the elements in about seven seconds. The downside is that at motorway speeds the noise level becomes intrusive.

The test car sat on optional 18-inch alloy wheels which deliver a decidedly choppy ride on lessthan- perfect road surfaces.

Much better news lies under the bonnet, where power comes from Vauxhall’s brilliant new 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. Delivering more than 100 horsepower, this punchy little powerplant offers swift acceleration, effortless cruising and the potential to regularly deliver more than 50mpg in day-to-day use.

An optional £275 electronic system allows integration of Android and Apple smartphone with the car. It provides USB and Bluetooth connectivity, audio streaming, a seven-inch colour touch-screen and seven speakers. Apps including navigation BringGo, Stitcher and TuneIn can be downloaded.

The integration of Apple iOS devices into the system enables Siri Eyes Free voice control that makes it possible for incoming text messages to be read aloud and for messages to be dictated while you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel.

Competing with the Mini means equipment levels must be high and the Adam has everything from air conditioning, cruise control and digital radio to a multi-function steering wheel, tyre pressure monitoring and electronic stability control.

Which is no more than you would expect on a car with an on-the-road price of £16,695. Add a clutch of extras such as parking assist, heated seats and steering wheel, leather interior, climate control and, weirdly, £25 Union Flag badges and the total rises to an eye-watering £20,335.

And remember, for less than the price of the Adam Rocks you could get behind the wheel of an Austrian-built Mini Countryman.