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Opel Zafira 1.7 CDTI ecoFlex - The Most Fuel Efficient Diesel in its Class

There's no doubt the economic recession has changed the way people and automakers talk about cars, with new trends mostly related to fuel consumption and carbon footprints. Opel says it has reached a new milestone with its new Zafira 1.7 CDTI ecoFlex engine, as it now produces nearly nine percent less emissions - 139 g/km according to official figures rolled out by the German automaker. This means Zafira is the most fuel efficient diesel seven-seat compact van on the market, the company continued its self-praising statement.

But more importantly, getting below the 140 g/km barrier also brings Zafira a number of scrapping bonuses in multiple European countries, including France and the United Kingdom.

“Getting the CO2 below 140g for a seven-seater van is a proud achievement. This is just one example of our commitment to continually improve the efficiency of our vehicles,” said Hans Demant, Managing Director Adam Opel GmbH.

To refresh your memory, the 1.7-liter diesel unit brings out a maximum output of 81 kW (110 hp) and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The average fuel consumption rating is 5.3 l/100km (44.4 mpg), while maximum speed goes as much as 180 km/h (118.8 mph) . The car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 13.5 seconds, according to official specs sourced from Opel.

Wondering how did the Opel engineers manage to improve the fuel efficiency? "They selected a longer axle ratio (3.35: 1 compared to 3.65) and a shorter gear set in first and second gear to compensate for the longer axle ratio. In addition, they reduced the friction of the water pump, optimized the engine management system, lowered the engine idle speed and reduced the power steering pump idle speed," Opel explained in a statement for the press.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
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Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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