BMW 'Active Tourer' Heads for US Sale in 2015
As Mercedes enjoys a first crack at the burgeoning front-wheel drive German luxury segment, BMW is readying its own product salvo that will include the brand’s first front-wheel drive crossover: the Active Tourer.
Set to go on sale in early 2015, the vehicle first previewed over a year ago during the Paris Motor Show as the “Concept Active Tourer” will be a direct competitor to the upcoming GLA-Class from Mercedes-Benz. The budget Bimmer will share its architecture and engines with the MINI Cooper line unveiled last week during the L.A. Auto Show. That family includes a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine and a more potent turbo four pot.
Assuming BMW doesn’t tinker with the engines, that means the 1 Series hatchback will offer 134 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque or 189 hp and 207 lb-ft.
BMW is aiming to expand its appeal to new customer segments by offering lower cost models, like like Mercedes and Audi. But BMW will be behind the curve when its front-wheel drive models arrive. Audi will already be offering the A3 and the CLA-Class is currently available.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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