12:45 pm, February 25, 2011
VAUXHALL has released pictures of its Zafira Tourer Concept ahead of next week’s Geneva Motor Show debut.
Being a concept the final look as not been confirmed, but these pictures gives the strongest hint yet at what a production-ready version may look like.
The car develops the theme that made the Zafira so popular with buyers – namely the ‘lounge-on-wheels’ idea. So space and ambient lighting all feature.
‘We have transferred the idea of a relaxing lounge to a vehicle and created an automobile oasis, a place to relax and enjoy,’said Mark Adams, Vauxhall’s vice president of design. ‘The Zafira Tourer Concept’s exterior design also makes a bold statement with its sleek, flowing lines and premium feel.’
Vauxhall’s Flex7 seating makes a welcome return in the concept, but in this application it has evolved still further. With two rows in place, providing five-seat capacity, the Zafira concept can be transformed at the push of a button into a four-seater with limousine levels of space.
A clever new folding mechanism allows the centre section of the second row to fold down, revealing two armrests for occupants in the outer seats. These seats can then slide back and towards each other, creating generous levels of space around passengers. Extended footrests complement the seating system still further.
The concept’s tilt-able three-piece headrests are electrically powered, though for safety reasons the driver’s remains in a vertical position when the car is in motion. In the ‘lounge’ setting, with the exception of the driver’s headrest, each swivels 90 degrees to the horizontal position while the outer elements curve slightly forward.
Up front, a large touch-screen display dominates the centre console, above which a covered storage compartment can hold a tablet PC like an iPad. The heating can be controlled using two turn knobs below the display, and air conditioning via touch-buttons.
The Zafira Tourer Concept is powered by a new version of the downsized, fuel-efficient 1.4 Turbo featuring Start/Stop technology, providing exceptional efficiency with brisk performance. Underpinning the car is a range of innovative technologies, such as the FlexRide adaptive damping system.
