World Premiere: Opel Zafira Tourer Concept, the Lounge on Wheels
02/24/2011
Opel
The Opel Zafira Tourer Concept makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show (March 3 - 13). The vehicle offers a glimpse into the future generation Opel Zafira monocab trendsetter. The concept car combines maximum flexibility with a premium feel, resulting in an ideal blend of functionality and wellness. The Zafira Tourer Concept is a "lounge on wheels" with a light, airy and high-class quality interior that offers generous space for rear passengers. It brings Insignia values like ambition, quality 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".
Flexibility trendsetter Zafira as luxurious wellness oasis
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 headrests are also electrically powered and add to the spacious first-class character of the Zafira Tourer Concept's cabin. For safety reasons the headrests remain in vertical position for the driver when the car is in motion. In the lounge setting, with the exception of the driver headrest, 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 center 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 color-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: Like an elegant high-speed train
The roomy, warm interior in dark brown and caramel color tones is encased by an elegant, sculptured and sophisticated exterior design in Frost Liquid Metal, a special metallic silver-grey.
The new distinctive front with wing shaped headlamps and twin trapezoid grille intakes creates 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 center crease on the hood 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 silhouette is reminiscent of a high-speed train. The sleek, aerodynamic body noticeably reduces wind noise to ensure quiet cruising even at high speeds.
The aerodynamically optimized 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 molding 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 matte lacquer emphasize both the monocab's natural athleticism and its upper-class 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 tires 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 Zafira Tourer Concept also features innovative technologies that enhance comfort and safety such as the FlexRide fully adaptive damping system.