Vauxhall Zafira Tourer concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

Vauxhall has put away the hologram projector and sent us proper photos of the Zafira Tourer concept, prior to its debut at the 2011 Geneva motor show

Vauxhall has sought to create a comfortable, relaxing lounge ambience with the interior of the new Zafira, shown here in concept car form. 

Vauxhall's trademark Flex7 seating now allows the middle row of seats to fold flat into the floor. The Zafira Tourer also boasts a 'lounge seat' middle row. Similar to the Vauxhall Meriva and other MPVs on the market, this allows the centre chair to drop down, liberating extra space for two middle-row passengers. 

The interior is richly trimmed in caramel-coloured leather, with contrasting dark brown trim on the doors, and deep-pile carpets. This is not your usual toddler-resistant troop-carrier fare.

The upmarket lounge ambience is aided by interior LED lighting set to reflect of embedded metallic particles in the upper surfaces of the interior, creating a warm glow in varying shades of yellow.  Whether the effect is aided or stymied by the LCD glow from the built-in tablet PCs for rear seat passengers is another matter. Perhaps you could install a fireplace app and play some relaxing tunes from your music collection?

Up front, the driver gets a touch-screen infotainment system in the centre console, and there's more space for gadget-obsessives to connect their iPad or tablet PC to the car. 

You can see hints of Vauxhall's upcoming plug-in hybrid in the Zafira Tourer's front-end styling, but the remainder sticks close to the modern GM Europe look of the existing Vauxhall range. The design team was also influenced by high-speed trains when drafting the sleek exterior, apparently.  

As befits a concept car, the relaxing lounge sits on massive 20-inch alloy wheels. Low-profile rubber will test the mettle of the FlexRide adaptive dampers if the Zafira Tourer is to realise the promise of that cossetting interior.

The Zafira Tourer concept is powered by GM's 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, fitted with stop-start technology.

There's not a long wait this time. The real McCoy arrives at the Frankfurt motor show in autumn 2011.

By Mark Hamilton