BMW 2 Series Active Tourer first view

February 14, 2014

The all-new 2 Series Active Tourer is BMW’s first front-wheel drive model. Depending on your point of view, that’s either hugely controversial or it won’t matter one iota. As many BMW owners are seemingly unaware that their cars are rear-wheel drive, expect most people to fall into the latter category.

Packaging is the main beneficiary of the move. With a transversely-mounted engine and a smaller transmission tunnel, BMW is promising a spacious interior with decent rear legroom, a raised seating position for the front seats and 468 litres of luggage capacity. That can be expanded to 1,510 litres courtesy of the rear seat that slides, reclines and has a 40:20:40 split-folding backrest.

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2015) Front Side 1

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. Scroll down for more images.

Measuring 4,342mm (14’ 3”) long, 1,800mm (5’ 11”) wide and 1,555mm (5’ 1”) high the five-seat 2 Series Active Tourer has the proportions of a small MPV. By comparison, a 1 Series hatchback is 18 mm (0.7”) shorter, 35 mm (1.4”) narrower and 134 mm (5.3”) lower.

Wide tracks, a long wheelbase and a stiff bodyshell have been combined with a single-joint spring-strut front axle and a multi-link rear axle. BMW claims those attributes provide excellent driving dynamics, decent ride comfort and virtually no torque steer. However, if the standard set-up isn’t sporty enough, electrically-controlled dampers and a variable sports steering system are on the options list.

When UK sales begin at the end of September, two engines and a choice of SE, Sport, Luxury and M Sport trim grades are going to be offered.

Model	BMW 218i Active Tourer	BMW 218d Active Tourer
Engine	Three-cylinder turbocharged petrol	Four-cylinder turbocharged diesel
Transmission	Six-speed manual (six-speed automatic optional)	Six-speed manual (eight-speed automatic optional)
Power	134 bhp (100 kW / 136 PS)	148 bhp (110 kW / 150 PS)
Torque	220 Nm (162 lb/ft)	330 Nm (243 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	9.3 secs	8.9 secs
Top speed	124 mph (200 km/h)	127 mph (205 km/h)
Combined cycle	57.6 mpg (4.9 l/100km)	68.9 mpg (4.1 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	115 g/km	109 g/km
All figures are provisional.

The all-wheel drive 225i xDrive Active Tourer is due to join the range a couple of months later. It’ll eventually be followed by the 220i, 216d, 220d and 220d xDrive Active Tourers.

Exact prices have yet to be announced, but BMW has said that they’ll start from less than £23,000.