OPEL Zafira OPC 2001-2005 Photos, engines & full specs

Opel introduced the Zafira MPV in 1997 based on the same platform as the Astra and, four years later, it dared to offer it in a more spirited version and became the quickest minivan on the European market.

Usually, the minivans are those people-carriers blocking the left lane (or the right ones for RHD) and dropping the children in front of their schools. The Zafira OPC was different. It was a grown-up hot-hatch able to carry seven people inside, but it could keep up with sporty sedans from its times.

The Zafira OPC sported a slightly different front fascia than the rest of the range. The carmaker installed a unique bumper with a broad grille at the bottom to cool the intercooler. A pair of side-scoops hosted the fog lights and helped to cool the front brakes. Its hood-grille sported a black slat on top, with the OPC lettering on it. Apart from the 17" light-alloy wheels, there were no obvious signs of its performances from its sides.

Inside, the carmaker was not that subtle anymore. Inside the instrument cluster, Opel placed white dials and two small LCDs for the onboard computer. The seats were different than on the rest of the Zafira range. For the front ones, they featured higher bolstering. It was a tall car with high-mounted seats, but the occupants still had to stay in their places during high-speed cornering. In the back, apart from the specific upholstery, Opel installed the same seats as on the rest of the Zafira range.

Under the hood, the carmaker installed a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. It wasn't exactly a usual powerplant for a minivan, but Opel did it, and it paired it exclusively with a five-speed manual gearbox. The stiffer suspension with thicker anti-roll bars helped in the handling department.