Opel has increased its share in Europe this year, with sales rising 6% up to May, giving the brand a market share of 7.4%, compared to 7% in 2010. So mother company GM must be satisfied, right?
Well, not entirely, according to Automotive News. And that’s because Opel’s cars are technologically advanced and due to high German working rates, are quite expensive to manufacture. However, they cannot be sold in prices similar to direct competitors such as Volkswagen because they lack their rivals’ image.
Across the pond, General Motors is upping the ante in the popular compact MPV sector with the introduction of Opel’s third generation Zafira model that will go on sale in most European countries this autumn. The production version of Opel’s Geneva show concept will also wear Vauxhall’s badges with the first cars to reach UK showrooms by early 2012.
We have already brought you the news and the first batch of photos in our previous post (see here), but now we have also obtained the launch film showing Opel’s people carrier on the move.
Meet the new Opel Zafira Tourer, which was revealed today in its final production form before a global premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany this fall. General Motors’ European division had previewed its new range-topping people carrier as a concept model at the Geneva Salon this past March.
The Zafira nameplate was first launched onto the market in 1999 with Opel having introduced a second-generation model in 2005. Now in its third iteration, the new Zafira will attempt to expand its customer base by adding a more impressive design and a more premium feel to the mix of qualities that are typical of the minivan segment.
These are the latest and most revealing spy shots of the upcoming 2012 Opel Zafira minivan (to be sold under the Vauxhall brand in the UK), which will receive its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September before going on sale across Europe this fall.
The new Zafira was previewed in conceptual form at the Geneva Salon in March and will sit atop the Meriva in Opel’s MPV range rivaling the likes of Ford’s C-Max and Citroen’s Grand C4 Picasso.
From the looks of the lightly camouflaged test model, the Zafira has remained close to the Geneva concept car, with the most visible changes concerning the shape of the mirrors and the lower parts of the front and rear bumpers along with the reduced angle of the kink in the rear-side window.
Along with the sportier three-door variant of the new Astra, General Motors' Opel division is also developing an MPV version of its C-segment model that will replace the current Zafira. Caught on film out and about at the Nurburgring track in Germany, the camouflaged prototype confirms that the new Opel (Vauxhall in the UK) Zafira won't get the funky FlexDoor system with the rear-hinged back doors of the Meriva, and will continue to use a conventional five-door layout instead.
For the most part, the styling of this disguised test car has been hidden well, however, it's obvious that the new Zafira MPV takes its styling cues from the Astra and Insignia incorporating features such as the creased swoop behind the front wheels and the wing-shaped head lamps.
Inside, expect to find a similar dashboard styling with the Astra and enough space for seven passengers with three rows of seats and Opel's Flexspace seating system.
Since the next Zafira is based on the new Astra, powertrain options will be similar, meaning the range will include 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter turbocharged petrols as well as 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter diesels. Opel's next generation people mover is expected to be launched in Europe sometime next year.
Opel performed the world debut of its first Compressed Natural Gas compact van with a turbocharger, the Zafira ecoM, at the Bologna motor show. This particular variant of Opel's 7-seater minivan is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbo engine designed to run on either natural gas, bio-methane or any mixture of the two. The unit is provided with special pistons, valves and valve seats, plus separate injection systems for natural gas and gasoline. The engine has an output of 150HP offering the Zafira a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) and an average consumption of 5.3 kg of natural gas per 100 km in the MVEG cycle, emitting 144 g/km of CO2.
In gas mode alone, the vehicle can drive up to 370 km (230 miles), while the 14-liter reserve gasoline tank provides an additional range of 150 km (93 miles) for maximum flexibility.
Thanks to the cleverly designed underfloor arrangement of the four gas tanks around the rear axle, the Zafira's interior retains in full all its advantages in terms of variability and space. Just like its sister models, the Zafira ecoM features Opel's Flex7 seating system which enables the interior to be quickly converted from a seven-seater to a two-seater without any complicated procedure of removing the seats.
The new Zafira ecoM will reach European markets in January 2009.
