Opel/Vauxhall’s redesigned Zafira seven-seat MPV, previewed at this year’s Geneva show, will be in European showrooms by early 2012 after the production version makes its debut at September’s Frankfurt show, GM Europe (GME) said on Wednesday (18 May, 2011). And the previous generation will remain on sale.
However, the new car, called the Zafira Tourer, will be pitched above the current Zafira model with Opel/Vauxhall claiming it would “raise the bar for design, luxury, flexibility and innovation in the MPV sector”.
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GME has done this before. When the current Astra line was launched with no sedan version, some versions of the previous generation, including sedans, were kept in production in Poland and rebranded Astra Classic. Both old and new Zafiras will be built only at Bochum in Germany.
The production car’s design, shown in first ‘official’ images, is changed very little from the Geneva concept.
The first generation Opel Zafira was the first seven-seater in its class and set a new benchmark for its innovative folding Flex7 layout that eliminated the need to remove and store heavy seats – they all fold into the floor.
After 2.2m first and second generation units, engineers have substantially upgraded the Flex7 system. While the entire third row can still be folded down flush with the floor of the luggage compartment, the second row has been completely redesigned: no longer a bench, it now consists of three separate, individual seats that can be folded flat and moved independently of each other. Each can slide longitudinally by 210mm.
A claimed unique, optional ‘lounge seating’ system, provides “generous limousine-like seating space and comfort”, according to the automaker. The back of the middle seat in the second row folds down and rotates to provide armrests for the passengers in the outer seats. The longitudinal movement of the outer seats is extended to 280mm – 70mm more than in the standard version and 80mm more than in the current Zafira.
The outer seats also slide by 50mm towards the centre of the cabin which GM said is “a true novelty in the segment”.
The Zafira Tourer offers 710 litres load volume in five-seat configuration (65 litres more than the current Zafira), and up to 1,860 litres (+40 litres) when all rear seats are folded down.
It also adopts the multi-functional FlexConsole, an enhancement of the FlexRail system introduced last year in the smaller Meriva. The armrest with storage box and cup holder trail both slide on aluminum rails to the desired position, enabling flexible use of the generous storage space between the front seats where it is most accessible and useful.
The second generation of Opel’s integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier system also makes its debut in the Zafira Tourer. It is integrated in the rear bumper and pulled out like a drawer. The system has been re-engineered and features a new fastening device that makes it easier to use.
Inside, driver visibility has been improved thanks to a completely re-designed front layout with slim A-pillars, large side windows and a repositioned side rear view mirror – now mounted on the door panel.
A panorama windscreen – first seen in 2005 in the Astra GTC three-door hatchback is optional and flows into an almost full length glass sunroof.
Compared to the previous generation, the wheelbase and tracks have increased: wheelbase is now 2,760mm (+57mm), while the tracks are 1,584 mm in front (+96mm) and 1,588 at the rear (+78 mm).
The Zafira Tourer uses the Insignia front axle with isolated subframe and a McPherson strut. The layout of the rear axle is said to be unique in the monocab segment. As in the Astra, it combines a compound crank with a Watt’s link which GM says provides outstanding stability/control, comfort and noise insulation, yet is lighter and more compact than a multi-link axle that would not leave enough space to fit the integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier.
The FlexRide chassis control system automatically adapts to road conditions, cornering speed, vehicle movements and individual driving style to provide maximum stability, and offers a choice between standard, tour and sport modes.
New driver assistance systems, some first seen in the Insignia, include radar-based adaptive cruise control (ACC) with collision mitigating braking (CMB) and an updated front camera system that includes lane departure warning (LDW) and an improved traffic sign recognition system. New functions include: a following distance indication (FDI) that visually informs the driver about the distance to the vehicle ahead; a forward collision alert (FCA) that warns via visual and acoustic signals about an imminent collision with the vehicle ahead; intelligent light ranging system (ILR) that adds a new function to the bi-xenon advanced forward lighting system (AFL+) and adjusts the headlamp low beam pattern to the distance from the vehicle ahead and continuously adapts it to optimize roadway illumination without blinding.
Side blind spot alert, advanced park assist and rear view camera will also be available.
Launch engines are three versions of the two-litre CDTI common-rail turbo diesel engine from the Astra and Insignia with outputs of 81kW/110hp, 96kW/130 hp and 121kW/165hp.
Petrol engines are 1.4 Ecotec turbocharged units with 88kW/120hp and 103 kW/140hp. A new generation 1.8-litre petrol engine, with power outputs from 110PS to 165PS, follows later. Six-speed manual transmissions will be standard with all 1.4T and 2.0 CDTi engines, with the option of a six-speed automatic on some models. A five-speed manual ‘box will be standard with the 1.8-litre petrol model.
Start/stop technology will be offered with both the 1.4 petrol turbo and 2.0 CDTI engines and super fuel-efficient ecoFLEX, plus CNG and LPG versions are also planned.
“The current Opel Zafira will remain on offer next to the new, more refined Zafira Tourer, allowing traditional customers to benefit from a functional, flexible compact monocab at a very affordable price,” GM said.
This will give the automaker a full monocab range from the mini Agila (length: 3.74m), the small Meriva (4.29m), the compact current Zafira (4.47 m) and new Zafira Tourer (4.66 m).
