You can never be sure with magazine images of future models floating around the internet, but there’s something real about this photo of what is described as the BMW Active Sports Tourer Concept and which is sourced from the cover of the next issue of Auto Bild that’s due to come out on Friday, September 14.
The German magazine itself has issued a teaser of the upcoming issued but has darkened the car (see image below).
The vehicle pictured here is evidently a concept with the only fake feature we could find being the license plate – a common practice among car magazines in Europe to make readers think that the concept is a production model.
If real, the Active Sports Tourer Concept should be a thinly disguised version of the upcoming BMW 1-Series tall hatchback that may or may not sport the Gran Turismo nameplate when it enters production next year.
It is believed to ride on the BMW Group’s all-new UKL1 platform shared with the next generation of the MINI family, and yes, it will be a front-wheel drive model, with all-wheel drive versions being a strong possibility.
We have also heard that the 1-Series GT is likely to debut the BMW Group’s new 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder units in both gasoline and diesel variants.
Since we doubt that BMW would give Auto Bild an exclusive snubbing the rest of the motor press, if the 2012 Paris Motor Show-bound concept seen in this picture is the real deal, then the automaker should come out with an official release on Friday.
Story References: Auto Bild via 1Addicts
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