BMW Noncommittal on 2 Series Active Tourer US Launch
Station wagons and small hatchbacks tend to sell well in Europe but not so much in the U.S., and that is making some BMW executives nervous.
The 2-Series Active Tourer is a small hatchback and is also BMW’s first front-wheel drive model. That makes Frank Niederlaender, head of product management for lower series vehicles suspect that it won’t sell well in the U.S. The brand will wait at least 15 months to launch the vehicle in the States, though it will hit European streets this coming September.
“We have to find the right timing,” Niderlaender told Automotive News, who believes that the Active Tourer is too small to appeal to American customers.
However, BMW also held back the X1 crossover from the U.S. for three years because it predicted poor sales, and was pleasantly surprised when the X1 outsold projections by 10,000 units.
The Active Tourer is slightly smaller than the X1 and uses a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that makes 136 hp.
GALLERY: BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
[Source: Automotive News]
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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