BMW Concept Active Tourer, presentation in Madrid

This morning, BMW invited us to the presentation of the prototype Active Tourer, a small hybrid MPV measuring 4.35 metres long, 1.83 metres wide and 1.56 metres high, designed for a family-oriented customer who wants a car with low consumption and quiet operation without having to opt directly for an electric one.

This model is expected to reach dealerships in 2014, seeking to open a gap that BMW has not explored until now between the 1 Series and the 3 Series. In addition, BMW Group wants to intensify in its range of vehicles the type of powertrain used in the Concept Active Tourer, being the first of the BMWs to use this technology, which will be joined by the i3 and i8 in the coming years.

The Active Tourer represents a certain change in the mindset of the brand. A MPV, plug-in hybrid with front-wheel drive. When had we seen something like this from the German firm before? The market rules, and if customers start to request this kind of vehicle, it is logical that they will begin to be developed and manufactured in the near future.

MECHANICS

The powertrain is divided between two motors, one combustion and one electric, which together deliver a output of 190 CV with a combined consumption not exceeding 2.5 litres/100 km.

In the first case, the Active Tourer features a small three-cylinder petrol engine with 1.5 litres of displacement, supercharged by a twin-entry Twin Scroll turbocharger. It features TwinPower Turbo technology, direct fuel injection and a variable valve lift system called Valvetronic. As an anecdote, this engine block derives from the brand’s six-cylinder, although it has been completely redeveloped.

The petrol engine is supported by another electric motor responsible for driving the rear wheels. This allows the vehicle to travel 30 km in zero-emissions mode. The batteries, whose capacity BMW was unable to discuss, are lithium-ion and can be recharged either from an external power supply with a charger or by regenerating energy during braking.

The control unit itself manages the use of both motors, using a state-of-the-art GPS navigator to anticipate the road’s topography and thus further reduce fuel consumption.

It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds.

DESIGN

The vehicle’s shapes, completely revolutionary for the brand, show a car designed by and for the family, whose interior has been designed to offer its occupants greater comfort when travelling.

The driving position has been studied so the driver can enjoy driving without having to take their eyes off the road. This is thanks in part to the new Head-up Display system, which, unlike current ones, projects the information onto a film placed on the dashboard. It will display vehicle and navigation information.

Its boot, which folds down, can expand from the original 430 litres of capacity to a maximum of 600 litres. In addition, when the model reaches dealerships, BMW will offer customers racks that allow them to carry bicycles.

Another major new feature is the sunroof, which has become a solar filter, changing its opacity depending on the needs of the occupants. It also now features a leaf-shaped design, playing with light and shadow inside the cabin.

Both the exterior and interior lights feature LED technology for better visibility while also reducing energy consumption.

Images | Highmotor