If you were like us and were expecting the new “Outdoor” version of BMW’s Concept Active Tourer to be a study for a crossover-esque model, you will be disappointed to learn that it brings nothing more than a new orange paint job (dubbed Gold Race Orange) more hard-wearing interior materials and a carrier system for two bicycles.
That is, if you believe us and not the likes of certain publications like Autocar that somehow came up with the idea that it is a “more rugged-looking version of the Concept Active Tourer” and that “its 2670mm wheelbase is 90mm shorter than the original model, but is fractionally longer, narrower and taller“. For the record, it has the same exact wheelbase as the original concept.
Perhaps the only really interesting bit about the new concept model that will take to the stage at the OutDoor Friedrichshafen fair in Germany this week is the bicycle carrier system. We’ll let BMW explain why it thinks it’s special:
“In contrast to conventional solutions, this carrier is not mounted on the outside of the vehicle, but instead integrated into the interior to save space. As well as keeping bicycles dry and clean, this also has the advantage of protecting them extremely effectively from theft and damage. And when not in use, the carrier system disappears away into the side structure of the car or the load compartment floor, without restricting interior space.”
Just like the original Concept Active Tourer from last year’s Paris Motor Show, the Outdoor sports a plug-in hybrid powertrain that connects a transversely mounted 1.5-litre petrol engine turning the front wheels to an electric motor – BMW did not say which wheels it motivates, but we believe it’s the same setup as before with the electric motor acting on the rear axle.
The system puts out a combined output of 187hp (190PS) allowing the tall hatch to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from stationary in under eight seconds, going on to a top speed of around 200 km/h (125 mph), all while returning a combined fuel economy of 2.5l/100m (94mpg US / 113mpg UK) and CO2 emissions below 60 g/km, when utilizing both power sources.
By John Halas
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