This is a car which was inspired by the Japanese Bullet Train. Intrigued?

You should be, for this slippery streamlined customer isn’t a rocket-propelled supercar, it’s a people-carrier. OK, a thundering executive-styled people carrier, but an MPV nonetheless.

It claims to be the most aerodynamic car in its class and it certainly looks that way. Remember when people carriers were vans with windows and benchseats? Well, they’ve moved on a little way since then and it has to be said that Zafira Tourer is probably the most sophisticated yet.

Zafira continues as the real-world people-carrier and Zafira Tourer is the premium offering - bigger, better equipped and more of an executive car.

In fact, it stands comparisons with BMWs, Jaguars and co with executive-style performance. In this form it reaches 60mph in 9.1 seconds, yet it returns more than 61mpg on a run.

Looks and performance might catch the eye but it’s the cabin and the pricing which really impress.

Vauxhall have long been pioneers of flexible seating, making the most of the cabin by having seats which fold and flip in fantastic ways. This model takes this concept to a new extreme by having various new configurations. Some models, for example, allow the three second-row seats to move backwards and forwards independently. Or the middle seat can be turned into a table so the two outer seats get more space. Clever stuff.

It really is more of a flexible limousine than a utilitarian people-carrier. Zafira Tourer has quite an act to follow, though. The original model was launched in 1999 and it has been a best-seller ever since with 2.2 million sold across Europe with almost a quarter in the UK. In fact, in 2010 Zafira was the best-selling car in its market in the UK.

You can see why it’s so popular. Unlike some of the bigger beasts, Zafira is more car-like and therefore less of a culture shock to people more used to saloons and estates. Zafira Tourer is altogether more useful, with 30 storage areas and a boot of more than 1,800 litres, plus the ability to carry up to four bikes on a special rack. With class-leading levels of luxury and prices starting at just £21,000 (more than £1,200 less than the Ford S-Max) the seven -seat Zafira Tourer is expected not only to attract traditional MPV customers, but also those customers who may never have considered such a vehicle.

But what really defines the Zafira Tourer is its use of quality cabin materials, which sets new class standards.

Vauxhall’s Vice President of Design, Mark Adams, has created a spacious and inviting environment for occupants, offering near-panoramic views for driver and passengers. Now, this new model bearing the Zafira name is transformed from a utilitarian people carrier into a flexible limousine that many executive car drivers would feel comfortable living with.