There is usually a great difference between a vehicle presented to the world as a concept car and what actually drives into the dealership for sale.
BMW, however, has broken this trend with its new 2-Series Active Tourer, a versatile 5 seat MPV, which it first introduced to the world at the Paris Motor Show in 2012. With a transversely mounted engine and standard front-wheel drive, the Active Tourer heralds a new era for BMW and its newly released 2-Series. (The first instalment in the 2-series was a rear and four wheel drive coupe which was released in at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year.)
Although fundamentally different in its silhouette with a relatively short and heavily angled bonnet, there is no mistaking the Active Tourer for anything but a BMW with its distinctive kidney shaped grille, chamfered wheel arches and prominent body side swage lines.
The Active Tourer will be the first BMW model which will be available for purchase with three-cylinder power in a compact turbocharged 1.5 litre petrol engine. This engine is intimately connected to the new three-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid driveline that will be used by BMW’s upcoming flagship model, the i8 Coupe.
As to be expected with any car of this calibre, BMW will offer their drivers a large selection of internal options, all designed to complement its spacious interior (thanks to its transverse engine layout), as well as a variety of electronic options, all of which are designed to make driving the 2-Series a joy.
The 2-Series will, at first, be sold with a choice of either a three-cylinder direct injection petrol or four-cylinder diesel engine, the same EU6 emission compliant engines which can be found in the modern day Mini. This range will be expanded in 2015 to include a total of 6 different engine models. BMW is also offering a selection of gearboxes to complement the driving experience in this, its first ever front-wheel drive model.
For those of you keen to inspect this revolutionary new BMW, you won’t have long to wait, with the 2-Series Active Tourer set to hit Australian shores for sale during the later part of this year.
Read more at:-
http://watoday.drive.com.au/motor-news/bmw-reveals-first-ever-frontdrive-model-20140214-32pqk.html