Ever since the iconic Kombi of the 1960s MPV's have been, well, boxy; the technical description "monocab" says it all - without a bonnet or boot to sculpt and shape, styling has always been a secondary issue.
Until now.
Say hello to the Opel Zafira Tourer, a sleek and stylish family bus. The "Tourer" in the name underlines the redesigned Flex7 seating system: the third row still folds flush with the floor of the luggage compartment but the second row now has three individual seats rather than a bench, each of which can be folded flat and moved independently, as much as 210mm for-and-aft.
Then there's the optional Lounge Seating system, in which the back of the middle seat in the second row folds down and rotates to form armrests for the passengers in the outer seats. In this format the second-row seats can slide 280mm fore-and-aft, as well as 50mm inwards to provide truly luxurious elbow-room - described by Opel as a "lounge on wheels" feeling.
But this is also a van: with the third row of seats folded the Zafira will swallow 710 litres of luggage - or a cavernous 1860 litres with the middle row flat as well.
There are also aluminium rails on the floor so the front armrest (and the storage box under it), plus the centre console and its cupholders, can slide fore-and-aft to exactly where they are most convenient for any seating configuration.
The Zafira also introduces the second generation of Opel's FlexFix bicycle carrier, which simply pulls out of the rear bumper like a drawer, and has been re-engineered with a new fastening device that makes it even easier to use.
The distinctive front treatment has "boomerang" graphics sweeping from the top of the headlights to the bottom of the foglights, a characteristic Opel centre crease and trapezoidal grille, and, in line with all the other models in the range, "wing shaped" daytime running lights.
The Zafira's profile is reminiscent of a high-speed train with a hooked "hockey stick" belt line above the signature Opel "blade" crease.
Inside, driver's visibility has been improved with slimmer A pillars, large side windows and repositioned side mirrors, now mounted on the door panels. An optional "panorama" windshield flows into a generous glass sunroof that visually extends all the way to the back of the vehicle.
The Zafira Tourer chassis is substantially larger than that of its predecessor with a 2760mm wheelbase (57mm longer), 1584mm (+96mm) front and 1588mm (+78mm) rear track.
The front axle is borrowed from the Insignia, with an isolated sub-frame and McPherson struts, while the rear axle has a compound crank and Watt's linkage, more compact than a multi-link axle that for instance would not leave enough space to fit the integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier.
The adaptive FlexRide chassis control system automatically adapts to road conditions, cornering speed, vehicle movements and individual driving style to provide maximum stability, and offers a choice of three settings: the balanced Standard mode, the comfort-oriented Tour mode and the more active Sport mode.
Radar-based adaptive cruise control with collision mitigating braking monitors the distance to the vehicles ahead. If the set safety distance is not observed, the system automatically reduces vehicle speed or, in extreme cases, triggers emergency braking to prevent a collision.
The Opel Eye front camera system has a lane departure warning function - and even reads traffic signs, as well as displaying the distance to the vehicle ahead, warning the driver with visual and acoustic signals of an imminent collision with the vehicle ahead.
An intelligent light ranging system adjusts the bi-xenon headlights' low beam pattern to the distance from the vehicle ahead and continuously adapts it to optimise roadway illumination without blinding.
Side blind spot alert warns the driver of an imminent collision when changing lanes, advanced park assist helps the driver find a big enough parking slot and guides him in, and a rear-view camera makes even difficult manoeuvres in tight spaces easy.
The Zafira Tourer will be available at launch with three versions (81, 96 and 121kW) of the two-litre CDTI common-rail turbodiesel familiar from the Astra and Insignia.
The petrol options will be two downsized, 1.4-litre turbocharged engines tuned for 88kW and 103kW respectively.
Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will be available, each with a stop/start function.
Early in 2012 the Zafira Tourer range will be extended with a super fuel-efficient ecoFlex model as well as variants powered by compressed natural gas and liquid petroleum gas and, later in the year, new high-performance petrol engines will join the line-up.