If things stayed the same, we would probably still be living in caves – or even worse. Change is inevitable and this stands for car manufacturers, too.
BMW apparently thinks the same way; that’s why the Active Tourer Concept that premiered at the Paris Auto Show toady breaks with the Bavarian carmaker’s tradition by offering front-wheel drive.
The automaker claims that its latest study “offers an initial insight into innovations for the premium compact segment… in terms of both the interior and the drive concept.”
In plain English, this means that the Active Tourer Concept previews most elements of the company’s compact MPV model named Gran Turismo, which will become part of the 1-Series range to compete against the the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.
The Active Tourer Concept is powered by a version of BMW’s eDrive hybrid system that comprises a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that drives the front wheels, an electric motor that powers the rear axle and a lithium-ion battery that can be charged in any conventional socket.
The concept can operate solely on electric power, with a range of more than 30 km (18 miles). Despite total combine output reaching 187HP (190bhp) that allows for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in under 8 seconds, the Active Hybrid has an average fuel consumption of less than 2.5 lt/100 km (94 mpg US) and emits under 60g of CO2 per km.
The production model will be front-wheel drive and powered by the German carmaker’s new TwinPower family of engines, while a hybrid may complete the line-up.
By Andrew Tsaousis
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