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Opel Zafira Tourer Concept

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6th March, 2011

The Opel Zafira Tourer Concept made its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (3rd-13th March). The vehicle offers a glimpse into the future generation Opel Zafira monocab. The concept car combines maximum flexibility, resulting in a blend of functionality and wellness. The Zafira Tourer Concept is like a “lounge on wheels” with a light and airy interior that offers space for rear passengers. It brings values like ambition and innovative technologies to the monocab segment while showcasing Opel’s design philosophy "sculptural artistry meets German precision".

“We have transferred the idea of a relaxing lounge to a vehicle and created an automobile wellness oasis, a place to relax and enjoy. Passengers can retreat in the lounge. It is a comfortable, roomy space where you really want to be – regardless if it’s for a business trip or to relax for a long journey,” says Mark Adams, Vice President of Design at Opel. “The Opel Zafira Tourer Concept makes a statement with its sleek sporty look and premium feel”.

True to lounge feeling, the Zafira Tourer Concept interior is bathed in light thanks to a panorama windshield that seamlessly flows into a generous glass roof which extends to the rear of the car. A special touch is a second pane of high-tech composite material that is edge-lit by LEDs. Tiny metallic particles are embedded in the plastic to reflect the light and give off a cozy, warm light that can be varied in different shades of yellow. This reinforces the homey lounge ambiance and lends the interior a glowing 'character' while achieving a harmonious balance with the outside world.

In the Zafira Tourer Concept, Opel engineers further developed the seven-seat Flex7 seating concept pioneered by the Zafira, making it more sophisticated than ever.

The third row can still be completely folded down flush with the floor in the innovative Zafira Tourer Concept. Fully automatically at the push of a button, the five-seat configuration can then be transformed into a roomy four-seat rear cabin with first-class feeling and lounge character. Thanks to a clever new folding mechanism, the back of the middle seat in the second row folds to offer comfortable armrests for the passengers in the outer seats. These then slide back and towards each other, creating maximum space for passengers’ arms and legs and thus ensuring optimal comfort. With extended footrests, perfect seating for relaxation is created – the ideal place to unwind.

The tiltable three-piece head restraints are also electrically powered and add to the spacious first-class character of the Zafira Tourer Concept’s cabin. For safety reasons the head restraints remain in vertical position for the driver when the car is in motion. In the lounge setting, with the exception of the driver head restraint, they swivel 90 degrees to the horizontal position while the outer elements slightly curve forward – pure wellness for the passengers.

Clarity plays a big part in comfort and well-being in the first row, where a large touch-screen display dominates the centre console. A covered storage compartment above that can hold a tablet PC like an iPad. The heating can be controlled over two turn knobs below the display, and air conditioning via touch-buttons.

Thanks to the flexible and pivot-mounted tablet PCs on the front seat backs, passengers in the second row can comfortably surf the internet or control multi-media applications.

Seats tailored in high-quality caramel leather with colour-matched quilted seams and stitching, contrasted with Cocoa dark brown door trim, soft deep-pile carpet and a host of premium materials pleasant to touch, underline the monocab’s exclusivity.

Exterior design

The roomy, warm interior in dark brown and caramel colour tones is encased by an elegant, sculptured and sophisticated exterior design in Frost Liquid Metal, a special metallic silver-grey.

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The new distinctive front with wing shaped headlamps and twin trapezoid grille intakes makes a dynamic, sporty look.

The LED technology wing-shaped daytime running lights, bi-Xenon AFL and fog lamps are all contained behind a single plexiglass cover. The fog lamps, encased in a polished aluminium frame, shimmer in blue like a frosted acrylic block and contrast the warm atmosphere of the interior. These elements visually shorten the front overhang. The characteristic Opel centre crease on the bonnet reaches from the grille to the windshield.

Like the Astra Sports Tourer, the Zafira’s belt line sweeps upwards in a hockey stick-like gesture and visually helps to propel the vehicle forward. The sleek, aerodynamic body noticeably reduces wind noise to ensure quiet cruising even at high speeds.

The aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors house the turn indicators that are encased like jewels in an elegant, polished aluminium body. These high-class trim details are echoed in the waist moulding of the side glass as well as on the roof rails.

The dark tail lamps in the signature blade form with LED technology wrap around the body side and tailgate. The horizontal aluminium bar carrying the Opel logo stretches far into the light elements, giving the Opel Zafira Tourer Concept a broad, sporty look in the rear. The parallelogram-shaped dual exhaust pipes are integrated in another aluminium bar in the lower fascia, adding to its dynamic appearance.

Innovative designs and technologies enhance looks and comfort

The 20-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels in dark metallic grey matt lacquer emphasise both the monocab’s natural 'athleticism' and its 'character'. The polished high-gloss spokes contrast with diamond-cut aluminium surfaces that make them stand out against the dark background of the rims.

There is also a smart, exclusive detail hidden behind five slim covers integrated in the spokes. Opel engineers designed them as decorative and functional wheel-nut protectors. They can be unlocked easily and quickly and the covers open out in star-form to allow access to the bolts. The 245/40 R20 tyres add an extra dash of sporty comfort.

The Zafira Tourer Concept is powered by a new version of the 'downsized', fuel-efficient 1.4 Turbo featuring Start/Stop technology that provides a smooth ride for all occupants.

The Opel Zafira Tourer Concept also features innovative technologies that enhance comfort and safety such as the FlexRide fully adaptive damping system.

About Opel

In addition to value-orientated Daewoo sourced cars (sold as Chevrolet), General Motors manufactures and markets Opel vehicles in Europe. Opel has a range of passenger cars and a number of Renault sourced light commercial vehicles. In addition, Opel will replace their Combo van with a Fiat sourced van in 2012.

Opel competes with mainstream European brands such as Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen in addition to import brands such as Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki and Toyota.

Opel will be released on the Australian new car market during 2012 with a range of cars. Whilst the Corsa, Astra and Insignia are likely to be the mainstay of the local line-up, a production version of the next Zafira is a potential arrival at a later time. An earlier version of the Zafira has been sold in Australia as the Holden Zafira.


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