Ultra-economical: Opel Zafira Tourer now with 120 hp Whisper Diesel

Another economical choice for the Zafira Tourer: the versatile Opel seven-seater is now available in a second 1.6 CDTI ecoFLEX version with a power output of 88 kW/120 hp. This joins the 100 kW/136 hp turbo diesel which made its debut in the compact van last year. Both are members of Opel’s new diesel generation and distinguished by exceptionally economical fuel consumption with first-class running smoothness as well as minimal noise generation, which has prompted the motoring press to hail Opel’s 1.6 CDTI ecoFLEX engine as the “whisper diesel”. It is part of Opel’s large model and engine offensive, which will see 27 new models and 17 new engines introduced between 2014 and 2018. The new base version of the Zafira Tourer diesel is now on sale for a very attractive 26,850 euros (RRP incl. VAT in Germany).
A clear focus on minimizing engine noise, vibration and harshness characterized the engine’s entire concept, design and development process. This resulted in a very quiet and silky smooth engine operation. Advanced CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) simulation tools and several optimization loops were used to assess the noise character of each component and sub-system before the first prototype engine was even built. The success of this work is proven by the engine’s best-in-class performance for low noise and vibration.
The new engine generation is also first class in other areas: it has been further optimized in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Zafira Tourer with the 88 kW/120 hp 1.6 CDTI ecoFLEX comes with Start/Stop fitted as standard, and is also available with a low-friction six-speed manual transmission and a braking energy recuperation system. To ensure optimum electrical energy management, this system recovers a part of the kinetic energy via the generator in engine overrun mode, converting this to electrical energy and feeding it into the battery. This happens automatically whenever the driver takes his/her foot off the accelerator pedal or presses the brake pedal. When the battery is sufficiently charged, the generator output is greatly reduced and electrical components are powered in a fuel-saving manner by the buffered electrical energy. This means the engine is not required to drive the generator when accelerating, which helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This cyclical process would overload a conventional battery when repeated over time, so a high-performance, Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery is fitted in the Zafira Tourer. It provides maximum reliability in the electrical system and ensures the engine will always start without delay at any time. The AGM battery’s glass mat fleece absorbs electrolyte liquid, giving a high density which reduces internal resistance, improves cold-start characteristics and increases the battery’s service life.
Thanks to these ultra-modern technologies, the new Zafira Tourer whisper diesel is not only extremely quiet and comfortable to drive. It also offers significantly reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, consuming just 4.5 l/100 km in the combined cycle with emissions of only 119 g/km CO2. This frugality has earned the seven-seat Zafira Tourer an ‘A’ energy efficiency label in Germany.
Opel’s new diesel generation: Powerful, economical, environmentally-friendly
Both output versions (120 and 136 hp) of the Zafira Tourer 1.6 CDTI comply with future Euro 6 emission standards. Engineers have achieved this by incorporating Opel’s BlueInjection selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, which makes these diesels as clean as a gasoline engine in terms of emissions. In this environmentally-friendly, exhaust after-treatment process, a harmless fluid called AdBlue®, consisting of urea and water, is injected into the exhaust gas. The solution decomposes into ammonia, which is stored in a catalyst substrate. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) entering the catalyst in the exhaust gas is then selectively reduced to nitrogen and water. In this way, nitrogen oxides can be reduced by 60 to 80 percent.
The 1.6 CDTI engine’s cylinder block, crankshaft bedplate and cylinder head are all made from aluminum, saving more than 20 kilograms in weight. Fuel injector nozzle pressures of 2,000 bar, a 25 percent increase over previous engine generations, enable up to 10 injection pulses per cylinder cycle. This ensures high power, improved fuel atomization and efficient mixing with the air intake charge.
The two new generation ultra-efficient whisper-quiet 1.6 CDTI engines now complete a wide portfolio of diesel units for the Zafira Tourer. The spectrum of choice includes Opel’s familiar 2.0-liter diesel, with 81 kW/110 hp, 96 kW/130 hp or 121 kW/165 hp, as well as the top-of-the-range version which delivers143 kW/195 hp and 400 Nm maximum torque. The gasoline portfolio comprises an 85 kW/115 hp 1.8-liter engine and variants of a 1.4-liter Turbo with 88 kW/120 hp or 103 kW/140 hp, as well as a 125 kW/170 hp version of the 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo. The most powerful gasoline engine in the Zafira Tourer range is the 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo with 147 kW/200 hp – both versions of the direct-injection gasoline turbo unit are part of Opel’s all-new engine generation.
Customers who seek even more economical and environmentally-friendly driving can choose a 103 kW/140 hp, 1.4 LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) ecoFLEX model or the 1.6 CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) ecoFLEX variant with 110 kW/150 hp.