For those that thought a vehicle running on compressed natural gas (CNG) could never be mainstream, perhaps it’s time to think again as GM Opel will unveil its first CNG compact van at the Bologna motor show.
The Opel Zafira CNG Turbo 1.6 litre model has been designed to run on natural gas, bio-methane or any combination of the two. Its statistics are impressive with a maximum torque of 210Nm and fuel consumption at 5.3kg of natural gas per 100km with 144g/km of carbon dioxide (CO2). Its top speed is 120mph.
Its achievements in gas mode alone are also impressive as the vehicle can drive up to 230 miles with the reserve petrol tank providing an additional 93 miles of range.
Opel has been working on the CNG system since the turn of the new millennium, having first introduced the monovalentplus CNG system back in 2001. More than 75,000 natural gas-propelled vehicles have now been sold in the five largest markets in Europe in the first nine months of 2008 – in Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Currently, Opel has built more than 58,000 CNG models making it the second largest producer in Europe.
The vehicle will be unveiled at the Bologna event from December 5-14, 2008.
