How cool is this? Just over a year since the launch of the Opel Ireland’s best-selling commercial vehicle, Opel is showcasing a sporty variation of the Vivaro. The Vivaro Surf Concept is ideal for outdoor pursuits has room for up to six passengers with its CrewCab along with sports and fitness equipment. This close to production concept will make its world premiere at the IAA in Frankfurt from September 17 – 27. The Vivaro Surf Concept can shoulder a big load. There is a separate cargo area in the Vivaro Surf Concept that has a 3.2m3 (or 4.0m3 for the long wheelbase version) load capacity, ideal for transporting wet or dirty equipment without passengers noticing. Extensive outdoor equipment, surfboards or bikes can be handles as the cargo area of the 5m van has a total permissible weight of up to 2.9 tonnes.
“This close-to-production concept offers space for up to six passengers with its CrewCab. There is a large cargo area with numerous practical details behind the second row of seats. The sporty styling on the outside and numerous comfort features along with the ultra-modern IntelliLink system on the inside make it an elegant roomy van,” said Steffen Raschig, Director Commercial Vehicles at Opel. Ultramodern technology including a BiTurbo 1.6CDTI (140hp) can be found under the hood. It produces 340Nm of torque that can propel the Vivaro Surf Concept to a top speed of 180 km/h. The ecoFLEX version with Start/Stop only requires 6.1 liters of diesel per 100km, which is equivalent to 160gm/km CO2 (preliminary values). The air suspension of the rear axle compensates all sorts of bumps in the road giving passengers a comfortable ride; furthermore, in combination with the shortened springs, it reduces the vehicle’s height by roughly seven centimeters to 1.90m, ensuring that the Vivaro Surf Concept can access most multi-story car parks.
With shiny copper-brown / white paint and customised alloys, the Vivaro Surf Concept is sure to be a show stopper. With fine black leather and contrasting silver stitching on the side trim panels, the dashboard and the gear shifter gives the Vivaro Surf Concept a premium-quality finish. New automatic climate control ensures ideal temperatures inside the vehicle. This lifestyle van even comes with an optional parking heater. In addition, the passengers in the second row gain access comfortably via sliding doors on either side. Convenience is at the heart of the Vivaro Surf Concept. The floor of the cargo area is fitted with a newly developed rail system; the entire width under the second row of seats is used for a storage box that can hold small utensils. The doors and boot can be opened either manually or via ‘Keyless Open’.
Meanwhile drivers can look forward to a host of safety, assistance and infotainment options. The light and rain sensors along with the fog lights ensure excellent visibility. Park Assist with rear-view camera prevents unwanted scratches when maneuvering and the speed limiter ensures that the driver never exceeds the speed he sets. The latest version of Navi 50 IntelliLink gives the driver access to traffic information so that he can avoid any tailbacks en route. The infotainment system comes with TMC (Traffic Message Channel), hands-free module, audio streaming via Bluetooth and European maps. Operation is possible via the seven-inch touchscreen or via Siri Eyes Free voice control. Web radio stations along with audio books, Facebook, Twitter and many more can be accessed via the aha® app. The Vivaro Surf Concept also comes with a Wi-Fi Hotspot to ensure stable and fast connectivity. The spacious and comfortable Opel Vivaro Surf Concept will be on show at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt and could soon go into production as a “Limited Edition”.
