A SECOND generation Vauxhall Zafira has been revealed as the Opel Zafira Snowtrekker concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. In unveiling the car - alongside three other General Motors concept vehicles - director of Opel design Hans Seer said the new front end hinted at what the second generation Zafira may look like.

The front end is similar to the Opel G90 1.0 litre concept car shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show and Opel sources said the concept Zafira represented 'a continuity of design on themes which showed the potential of Opel/Vauxhall in the future'. Wayne Cherry, General Motors vice president North American Operations design centre, said: 'Every concept vehicle shows the design direction which each brand is going in whether it is Vauxhall or Buick. The design of the Zafira shows the way we are moving. We are developing the strong front end for European vehicles.'

The Zafira Snowtrekker is a five-door, six-seat vehicle which looks set to be given the production go-ahead - six of the nine concept vehicles to be revealed by General Motors this year are currently being discussed as potential production vehicles. Equipped with 18-inch wheels, the Snowtrekker is powered by an aluminium 2.2 litre 16v 150 bhp direct injection Ecotec petrol engine - which will debut in the Astra Coupe later this year - and has permanent 4x4 drive which, said the company, 'gives clear indications of things to come'.