The Active Tourer has a rather un-BMW-like compact semi-MPV body style.
Carmaker looks at brave new world with hybrid wagon. BMW has released the first details of its Active Tourer concept vehicle. If its advanced technologies make it into a future production version, the resulting car promises to be one of the most significant in the company's history.
It will be one of the stars of the BMW line-up at
next week's Paris Motor Show.
The Active Tourer has a rather un-BMW-like compact semi-MPV body style, but that's the least of this car's departures from the Bavarian manufacturer's traditional way of doing things. That body conceals a plug-in petrol hybrid drive-train capable of powering the Active Tourer for around 30km in electric-only mode after a top-up from the mains. The electric motor is paired with a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.
The rear wheels are driven by the electric motor, and front pair by the petrol engine - and that's probably the biggest shock of all, given BMW's long attachment to the benefits of rear-wheel drive. This set-up is based on the power-train that will be seen in the much sportier i8.
