Opel Zafira Tourer is most environmentally friendly van 2014

Opel has already won its first award in 2014! The environmental institute Ökotrend and the trade magazine Auto Test have chosen the Zafira Tourer the Most Environmentally Friendly Van 2014. Half of the assessment consists of vehicle operation (focusing on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, emissions standards, noise development), while the other half is based on the vehicle’s production and manufacturer. Opel’s popular van wins its class with the low-emission and ultra-economical 1.6 CNG (compressed natural gas) Turbo ecoFLEX engine. CNG gives particularly clean combustion in the innovative Opel four-cylinder turbo engine. With fuel consumption of just 4.7 kilograms (7.2 m3) high-grade natural gas per 100 kilometers over the combined cycle, the 110 kw/150 hp Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 CNG Turbo ecoFLEX model emits only 129 g/km CO2 – values that benefit both the environment and the owner. Economical consumption combined with a tank volume of 25 kilograms (144 liters) enable a driving range of up to 530 kilometers in pure CNG operation. Opel is a recognized pioneer in the advancement of alternative propulsion concepts. More than a decade ago, in 2001, the automaker presented its first compressed natural gas vehicle concept with innovative monovalentplus technology. Opel’s CNG ecoFLEX engines are optimized to run on natural gas, biogas or any combination of the two, as well as gasoline. CNG and biogas cost considerably less than gasoline or diesel, and in terms of kilometers driven, are even cheaper than liquefied petroleum gas. Good reasons for many customers to use these naturally occurring fuels. In Germany, the government has introduced a tax benefit regulation for the use of natural gas as a fuel until 2018. This recognizes its environmental friendliness because natural gas vehicles emit up to 25 percent less CO2, up to 80 percent less nitrogen and are free of benzol and soot particles. If 100 percent biogas is used as fuel, the vehicle’s carbon footprint is almost zero. Source: Opel