After a significant investment and several years of highly secretive research and development, Vauxhall today releases first pictures of the ADAM C, the world’s first full-size production kinetic car.

The ADAM C is powered by a state-of-the-art kinetic mechanism that’s not too dissimilar to those found in children’s clockwork toys (the ‘C’ stands for clockwork). Although on the surface it has the same flair and sleek styling as its more conventional counterpart, inside Vauxhall has ditched the engine, fuel tank and battery and replaced them with simple, yet innovative wind-up technology that propels the vehicle. The result? Zero running costs and no damage to the environment. All without compromising performance.

It’s as simple as just winding it up. All you need is manpower. Just fifteen minutes fully powers the vehicle and connects everything from the acceleration to six-speaker sound system. And because the new model achieves an operating range of up to 125 miles on one full wind-up, it’s as perfect for city driving, as it is for longer journeys. In terms of efficiency and sustainability it’s a no brainer. What’s more, when you run out of juice, you won’t need to waste time looking for somewhere to refuel. Simply jump out and wind the car up. Wherever you are. 

Better still, for the health and fitness fans among us, winding the clockwork mechanism burns serious calories. The rotating motion offers an incredible cardio and strength workout. By exercising your chest, shoulders, arms and core muscles, a 65kg person can expect to burn over 400 calories in just 15 minutes of winding. When the fifteen minutes are up, a buzzer sounds and a voice announces: “End of wind-up!”

“This game-changing technology stands to revolutionise the way we drive,” said Mick Cannical, Vauxhall’s Chief Kinetics Engineer. “We’ve paved the way towards a future of wind-ups. Improving the customer experience is a priority to us and given that the average Brit drives less than 35 miles every day, we estimate the model will appeal to over two-thirds of the population. We expect the growth to be exponential.

“Escalating fuel costs are no laughing matter,” said Anna Logg, who heads up the UK Government task force to help industry develop new and environmentally friendly transport solutions. “As such, we’re throwing our full weight behind the wind-up and will be considering subsidies and tax breaks for early adopters.”