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Opel has created the fastest diesel-powered seven-seater in the compact van segment by introducing state-of-the-art, sequential twin-turbo diesel and Start/Stop technology to the Zafira Tourer. The 143 kW/195 hp, 400 Nm 2.0 CDTI BiTurbo engine gives the Zafira Tourer’s new top diesel variant a maximum speed of 218 km/h. And with combined cycle fuel consumption of just 5.6 l/100 km, the new BiTurbo model is not only powerful but also impressively efficient, delivering an exceptional blend of high performance and great fuel economy.

The sophisticated sequential BiTurbo technology in the Zafira provides a high power output, an instantaneous throttle response and extraordinary pulling power from a wide torque plateau. Acceleration from zero-100 km/h is achieved in just 8.9 seconds and elasticity is outstanding, with 80 km/h to 120 km/h reached in just 8.5 seconds in fifth gear.

The award-winning Zafira Tourer – most recently a recipient of the 2012 ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ from readers of European car magazines – combines premium class ambience inside the cabin with cutting-edge technologies, some of which are unique in the segment and enhance safety and comfort. Technical highlights include the mechatronic FlexRide chassis system, the second-generation Opel Eye front camera, the AFL+ adaptive forward lighting system and a panoramic windshield which floods the cabin with natural light.

Extra flexibility inside the Zafira Tourer is provided by the new generation Flex7 system, including the unique lounge seating functions which give passengers an unprecedented amount of space in the second row.

The new 2.0-liter BiTurbo engine further expands the Zafira Tourer’s broad powertrain offer. This now comprises five diesel and four gasoline engines, as well as an LPG and a CNG Turbo variant. The extensive choice ensures that a wide range of customer needs and tastes are met. “Opel is spicing up its already successful Zafira Tourer with new and exciting German-engineered features,” says Opel Board Member in charge of Operations, Business Development & Corporate Strategies Thomas Sedran. “We are now the only brand to offer a sophisticated BiTurbo engine in a van format. It provides a perfect blend of high performance, impressive fuel economy and premium class quality in a seven-seat layout.”

The new high-performance diesel Zafira Tourer BiTurbo can be ordered now. Prices start at 35,405 euro (RRP in Germany includes VAT), and customer deliveries are expected to commence in April 2013.

BiTurbo engine delivers powerful, smooth acceleration without turbo lag

Launched in early 2012 in Opel’s Insignia flagship, the 143 kW/195 hp BiTurbo CDTI engine now introduces sophisticated sequential technology with a twin-intercooler system to the Zafira Tourer line-up. Depending on the load demands from the four-cylinder diesel engine, two turbochargers of different sizes work separately or together. The main focus of development was to ensure a rapid build-up of charge air pressure at low engine speeds, while also giving a strong throttle response in the mid rpm range. The system operates smoothly and seamlessly, ensuring the driver enjoys constant acceleration without any disruption in power delivery.

The smaller turbocharger has lower inertia and is quickly engaged at lower engine speeds. This means there is direct and immediate accelerator pedal response, preventing any undesired ‘turbo lag’ effect. At just 1,250 rpm, the driver can draw on 320 Nm of torque – 80 percent of the 400 Nm maximum available between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm.

In the mid-range rpm, both turbochargers operate together, with the larger turbocharger pre-compressing the intake air before it is fully compressed in the smaller one. A bypass valve is controlled continuously to feed part of the exhaust gases to the larger turbo. As a result, the driver always enjoys smooth acceleration. At higher rpm (from around 3,000 rpm), all the gases flow directly to the larger turbocharger, maintaining a silky power delivery at higher speeds.

The flow of intake air is regulated according to the rpm range and the needs of the two turbochargers. At low rpm, an additional cooler, linked only to the small turbocharger, ensures the small volume of air passes in a direct path to the combustion chamber. In the mid rpm range, the bigger and more powerful turbocharger is progressively engaged. Its larger stream of air is cooled by a bigger cooler.

In the Zafira Tourer BiTurbo application, engineers specified a clever packaging solution by splitting the intercooler module internally for the smaller and larger coolers. This differs from the Insignia BiTurbo engine, where the engine compartment is more spacious and the coolers are in separate locations. Both coolers in the Zafira Tourer BiTurbo engine are air-cooled.

Start/Stop technology helps reduce fuel consumption in busy urban traffic, making the Zafira Tourer BiTurbo an impressively efficient seven-seater with 5.6 l/100 km (149 g/km). A six-speed manual gearbox comes as standard.

Lounge on wheels with innovative flexibility

The powerful and flexible Zafira Tourer BiTurbo is an ideal companion, not only for families but also for many professional activities. It offers elegant design with a spacious lounge ambience thanks to its clever Flex7 seating concept. While the third row of seats can still be folded down flush with the floor of the luggage compartment, the second row consists of three individual seats that can also be folded flat, thus creating an even load floor. These three seats can slide longitudinally up to 210 mm independently of each other.

Passengers in the second row can enjoy the unique, optional Lounge Seating system, which provides generous seating space and comfort typical of an upper-class sedan. Thanks to a clever folding mechanism, the back of the middle seat in the second row folds down and rotates to provide comfortable armrests for the passengers in the outer seats. The longitudinal movement of the outer seats is now a best-in-class 280 mm – 70 mm more than in standard specification, and 80 mm more than in the previous Zafira. The outer seats also slide 50 mm towards the center of the cabin, creating more shoulder room. The combination of both longitudinal and lateral movement ensures first-class comfort and the unique feeling of travelling in a ‘lounge on wheels’, with maximum individual space and ergonomics. This emphasis on personal comfort makes the Zafira Tourer much more than just a family vehicle. Opel designers have turned the flexible interior into a place to relax and enjoy more spacious accommodation – whether on a business trip or a long vacation.

Thanks to its generous cabin layout and flexible seating system, the Zafira Tourer offers 710 liters load volume in the five-seat configuration. When the second row of seats is folded down, maximum load volume increases to 1,860 liters. The Zafira Tourer also provides over 30 storage compartments, including the multi-functional FlexRail center console. This modular storage system includes a large storage box and cup-holders that slide on aluminum rails to the desired position, enabling flexible use of the generous storage space between the front seats – exactly where it is most accessible and useful.

The optional panoramic windscreen gives the interior of the Zafira Tourer an open, ‘cinematic’ feel flooded with light. Driver and passengers enjoy an airy and spacious experience, with generous visibility from a large, sweeping windscreen which stretches all the way to the back of the front row. In addition, there is a panorama sunroof that flows directly out of the windscreen and stretches all the way to the rear of the vehicle. This boosts the light, airy lounge atmosphere throughout the interior.

Comfort and safety enhancing technologies

The Zafira Tourer BiTurbo also boasts new technologies that enable relaxed driving with maximum comfort and safety. For instance, the new generation of the Opel Eye front camera recognized by the Euro NCAP organization provides a foundation for driver assistance systems such as the enhanced Lane Departure Warning (LDW), an improved Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) function which recognizes more road signs than ever, a Following Distance Indication to the vehicles in front and Forward Collision Alert. The new generation Opel Eye also enhances the functions of the Opel Advanced Forward Lighting System (AFL+) with an Intelligent Light Ranging (ILR) capability.

The Opel Zafira Tourer is also equipped with multiple ultrasonic sensors that enable maximized safety and comfort with further new, innovative technology features such as the Side Blind Spot Alert (SBSA) that warns the driver of a potential imminent collision when changing lanes, and the Advanced Park Assist (APA) that automatically detects suitable parking slots and guides the driver in parking maneuvers. A rear-view camera system further facilitates vehicle parking.

FlexRide chassis system ensures best possible comfort

Opel’s intelligent, mechatronic FlexRide chassis is also available in the Zafira Tourer BiTurbo, providing even higher comfort, safety and driving dynamics. The adaptive chassis control automatically adapts to prevailing road conditions, cornering speed, vehicle movements and individual driving style.

Sensors fitted to the body of the vehicle feed information to the Driving Mode Control (DMC) unit which, in turn, adjusts the chassis according to prevailing conditions. FlexRide has three different modes: a ‘Standard’ setting for balanced, daily use, ‘Tour’ for extra comfort and ‘Sport’ for more dynamic driving.

The ‘Standard’ mode is a good all-rounder. In contrast, the ‘Sport’ setting delivers a crisper sensation – the engine, chassis and steering are all more responsive. ‘Tour’ mode, meanwhile, is designed to deliver a smooth, almost glide-like sensation on the road.

Unparalleled choice of powertrains in the monocab segment

Opel is one of very few car makers in the seven-seat compact van segment to offer diesel, gasoline, LPG and CNG Turbo variants straight from the factory. The Zafira Tourer is therefore just as versatile in its powertrain choice as it is inside its cabin: the master of versatility offers all conventional propulsion types in its portfolio.

The Zafira Tourer’s extended powertrain portfolio includes diesel engine variants with manual or automatic transmissions at four power levels: from 81 KW/110 hp and 96 kW/130 hp, through to 121 kW/165 hp and now 143 kW/195 hp with the addition of the BiTurbo diesel. At the Geneva Motor Show in early March, Opel will also reveal the new generation 1.6 Turbo CDTI ECOTEC engine which will be introduced in the Zafira Tourer before summer. It delivers 100 kW/136 hp and 320 Nm of torque for outstanding fuel efficiency with just 4.1 l/100 km consumption and 109 g/km CO₂. Equipped with SCR technology (selective catalytic reduction) the Zafira Tourer 1.6 CDTI ECOTEC already meets the future EURO 6 emission limits.

On the gasoline side, the Zafira Tourer covers a spectrum ranging from 85 kW/115 hp to 103 kW/140 hp. More power will be offered soon in the shape of a new family of mid-size 1.6 direct-injection gasoline engines delivering 125 kW/170 hp.

For Zafira Tourer owners who want efficient and environmentally-friendly alternative propulsion, Opel recently launched its LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) variant, a 103 kW/140 hp, 1.4 LPG ecoFLEX Turbo engine. This powerhouse provides the same output and torque of 200 Nm (1,850 – 4,900 rpm) in both cost-efficient LPG and gasoline operating modes. In the LPG mode the Zafira Tourer 1.4 LPG Turbo ecoFLEX engine consumes only 8.6 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, equivalent to 139 g/km CO_2.

There is also the Compressed Natural Gas ecoFLEX Zafira Tourer version, with a best-in-class CNG range of up to 530 km – well beyond the 500 km mark. The Zafira Tourer 1.6 CNG Turbo ecoFLEX delivers 110 kW/150 hp and 210 Nm of torque, reaching a top speed of 200 km/h. The vehicle uses only 4.7 kilograms (7.2 m³) of natural gas per 100 kilometers over the combined cycle (129 g/km CO₂). The 1.6 Turbo engine can also run on biogas alone or a mixture with natural gas. With pure biogas propulsion, the carbon foot print is almost zero.

Opel’s successful monocab story continues

The new Zafira Tourer BiTurbo model is the latest in a long line of highly successful Opel monocab vehicles. Opel started a new vehicle class in 1999 when it launched the first seven-seat compact monocab, the first-generation Zafira. In 2000, Opel’s mini monocab, the Agila, was added to the portfolio. And in 2003, a smaller sibling of the Zafira, the Meriva, made its debut. The following years saw continuous enhancements and updates, including the second generations of Zafira in 2005 and Meriva in 2010. The third Zafira generation, called the Zafira Tourer, arrived in 2011.

The second-generation Zafira, the Zafira Tourer and its smaller Meriva sibling have all been awarded dozens of automotive prizes between them. The Zafira range, including the Tourer variant, has won more than forty prizes across Europe. Accolades range from the prestigious German ’Golden Steering Wheel’ in 1999, 2005 and 2012 to the ‘Car of the Year’ award in several European markets. The Meriva has won more than twenty European awards.

The new high-performance Zafira BiTurbo diesel is expected to be particularly popular in Germany and Switzerland. More than half of total European sales are likely to be generated by these two markets alone. Sales growth is particularly impressive in Germany, where the Zafira’s share of its segment has increased by more than 6 percentage points year on year (Jan-Dec 2011 vs. Jan-Dec 2012). In Italy its segment share has also increased, up by almost 6 percentage points for the same period. In Switzerland, there was an increase of more than 5 percentage points.

Every year since 2007, the Zafira has led its segment in the United Kingdom. In Eastern Europe and Russia in particular, the Zafira has been the segment leader since 2011. Opel market research conducted in France and Germany shows that the Zafira Tourer’s exterior design, equipment levels and roominess were all key positive factors in owners’ purchasing decisions.