BMW Serie 2 Active Tourer plug-in hybrid: the future of the estate from BMW

Alongside the BMW i8 and the Serie 5 hydrogen fuel cell, details of the Serie 2 Active Tourer plug-in hybrid have been revealed. The German brand chose the Miramas test ground in southern France for an event it calls the Research Days, where it tests and reveals many details of its future BMW models, including these interesting hydrogen alternatives planned for 2020.

For now it is in the prototype stage, which is why the official images still show it covered in camouflage. However, it will be the first model with a plug-in hybrid featuring a transversely mounted front engine and front-wheel drive within the Bavarian brand’s lineup. On one hand, the vehicle has a 1.5-litre turbo three-cylinder engine producing 136 CV directly to the front axle (an engine identical to the one in the BMW i8, but with less power), while the rear axle will feature a 87 CV electric motor powered by a high-voltage generator that draws energy directly from the front drivetrain, alongside the combustion engine.

As a result, the BMW Serie 2 Active Tourer plug-in hybrid has an all-wheel-drive system similar to that of the i8 sports car. The high-voltage generator, for its part, performs three different tasks. It supports the combustion engine for short periods with up to 20 CV and 150 Nm of torque, generates electrical energy while the car is moving, and allows the engine to switch off and restart smoothly thanks to its greater energy output compared with conventional starter motors.

In terms of range, the Serie 2 Active Tourer plug-in hybrid can travel a total of 38 kilometres in pure electric mode, reaching 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and with an official combined-cycle average consumption of 2 litres per 100 km. In addition, CO2 emissions are below 50 g/km, according to the European Union test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The German manufacturer, meanwhile, states that the model will go into production and will have a price similar to that of existing variants with similar power outputs.

Source | BMW

Technical specifications of this car

SedanBMW Serie 218 versions · from 38,650 €