Burning rubber in a seven-seat people carrier hardly seems likely, but if that is your bag then Vauxhall's new Zafira GSi Turbo fits the bill.

Its turbocharged engine has a top speed of 137mph and it achieves 0-60mph in under eight seconds.

At £19,995 on the road this is a quick yet highly functional machine.

This award-winning Zafira is the only car to offer every combination between a two (or even one) seat carry-all and a spacious seven-seater people carrier.

Development was done by the Vauxhall Opel Performance Centre in Germany, with more hot models planned.

Vauxhall managing director, Kevin Wale, said: "We will be making some special offers under the GSi name to all people who value the sports side of a car's character as we continue to develop the Vauxhall brand."

At the heart of the Zafira GSi Turbo's performance is the 2.0, 16v Ecotec four-cylinder engine. With its turbo-charger system, this engine has huge reserves of power.

The torque curve reaches its maximum of 250Nm at an engine speed of 1950rpm, and maintains this level up to almost 5400rpm.

This performance brings in an average fuel consumption of 27.9 mpg.

Zafira's versatility and seating system, is unchanged, making it ideal for those seeking a family and leisure car with exceptional performance.

Inside sport front seats with part leather upholstery, air conditioning and exemplary passive safety equipment (including full-size curtain airbags, front and side airbags, front-seat head restraints and Vauxhall's pedal release system) complement the Zafira's style and performance.

External visual differences include a deep front spoiler with large air intake, individual styling of the bumpers and side sills, rear tailgate spoiler and 17-inch alloys fitted with 225/45 R 17 tyres.

The GSi Turbo has front and side airbags, full-size curtain airbags for the front two rows of seats, adjustable head restraints for all seats, lap and shoulder seatbelts and Vauxhall's patented pedal release system.

Its equipment list includes electric windows all round, remote control central locking, child seat mounts and electric heated mirrors.

Then there are front fog lamps, an automatic electro-chromatic anti-glare interior mirror with ambient light, a multi-info display computer, folding carpet and cover in the load area, a steering wheel adjustable for height and reach, plus a top-class audio system with CD player.

Air conditioning with clean-air and pollen filters is standard, aided by a solar reflect windscreen and solar protect dark tinted heat-insulating glass in the rear side and tailgate windows.