BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Tests Plug-in Hybrid Technology
BMW has previewed its plug-in hybrid technology.
As part of the BMW Group Innovation Days 2015, the German automaker showed off the 2 Series Active Tourer Plug-in Hybrid concept, which has the front wheels driven by a three-cylinder gasoline engine while an electric motor drives the rear wheels. If that sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because the BMW i8 employs a similar powertrain layout, albeit reversed. Still, that means the 2 Series Active Tourer Plug-in Hybrid has road-linked all-wheel drive and shows how versatile BMW’s eDrive technology is.
The company confirmed that its first production plug-in hybrid model will be the BMW X5 xDrive40e, which will be followed by the 3 Series with plug-in hybrid technology and more models to come in the future.
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As for the 2 Series Active Tourer Plug-in Hybrid concept, the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine generates 136 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed Steptronic transmission. The electric motor is mounted behind the rear axle and sends up to 88 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. The result is a 0-62 mph time of around 6.5 seconds and gets an all-electric range of 38 km (23.6 miles) on the EU test cycle.
The German automaker confirmed the 2 Series Active Tourer Plug-in Hybrid will head to production, although pricing has not yet been determined. It did say that “prices at launch will be in the range of existing engine variants with comparable power outputs – just as they are for the electrified versions of the BMW X5 and BMW 3 Series.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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