A raft of new models, engines and equipment choices have been added to BMW‘s UK lineup, beginning with the 2-Series Active Tourer that is available for order now with first deliveries expected on 27 September, 2014.

The Bavarian firm’s first front-wheel drive model is a compact minivan (another first)offered in Britain with two engines, a 134bhp (136PS) 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbo petrol for the 218i that starts from £22,125 OTR, and a 148bhp (150PS) 2.0-liter inline-four diesel for the 218d priced from £24,205 OTR.

There are three available trim grades to choose from for the 2-Series Active Tourer, including the base SE, the Sport that cost £1,250 over the SE, and the Luxury priced £2,000 over an SE, while in November, BMW will add an M Sport specification, priced at £3,000 premium over the SE.

For the 5-Series, BMW is presenting a new generation 2.0-liter turbocharged four diesel that debuts this summer on the 518d and 520d.

On the 518d, the diesel unit produces 148bhp (150PS) returning up to 65.7mpg UK in the sedan that starts at £30,265 OTR and up to 61.4mpg in the Touring that is priced from £32,590 OTR.

The 520d’s engine is rated at 188bhp (190PS) and it delivers up to 65.7mpg UK on the saloon that has a starting price of £31,965 OTR, and up to 62.8mpg on the Touring that begins from £34,290 OTR.

For the new model year, the 2-Series Coupe lineup welcomes the 228i with a 242bhp (245PS) 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol that returns a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of 5.7 seconds. Available exclusively in M Sport trim, the 228i Coupe starts from £28,260 OTR.

Four new models have been added to the 4-Series Convertible range beginning with the entry-level 420i that features an 181bhp (184PS) 2.0-liter turbo’d petrol and a starting price of £34,210 OTR. The other three models are all diesel-powered and include the 425d with a 215bhp (218PS) 2.0-liter four from £38,540 OTR, the 430d with a 254bhp (258PS) 3.0-liter six from £44,485 OTR, and the all-wheel drive 435d xDrive with a 309bhp (313PS) 3.0-liter six from £48,400.

During the summer, BMW will enhance the range of the new 4-Series Gran Coupe with the 420i xDrive featuring all-wheel drive and a 215bhp (218PS) 2.0-liter four petrol that costs from £30,960 OTR; the 430d with a 254bhp (258PS) 3.0-liter six available in both RWD and AWD (prices to be announced); and the 435d xDrive with all-wheel drive and a 309bhp (313PS) 3.0-liter six priced from £44,545 OTR.

Other updates for the fresh model year include a new eight-speed automatic transmission featuring Proactive Drive for the 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series and 5 Series ranges. According to BMW, the Proactive Drive version works in tandem with the navigation system and “ensures that the moment to shift gears is precisely adapted to the current driving situation”.

There’s also a new gen of BMW’s Business navigation and Professional radio systems for the 1 Series, 2 Series and 5 Series, available in the summer of 2014 (they are already offered on the 3- and 4-series models).

Finally, BMW Individual has added several new exterior colours and interior trims on a number of vehicles.

For example, the 4-Series Gran Coupe is now available for order with Frozen Grey metallic, Frozen Brilliant White metallic, Frozen Bronze metallic and Frozen Cashmere Silver metallic, whilst the M3 sedan and M4 sedan are now available Azurite Black metallic, Pyrite Brown metallic, Tansanite Blue metallic and Moonstone metallic.

Furthermore, the M3 Saloon can be specified with the BMW Individual leather trim Merino fine grain, or the BMW Individual leather trim with contrasting colour stitching in Shakir Orange, Blue, Yellow or Silverstone finishes, along with a leather-covered BMW Individual instrument panel.

UK buyers can also now specify the X5 with BMW Individual’s Pearl Silver metallic and Azurite Black metallic in addition to gaining Individual fine-grain Merino leather trim and the BMW Individual Ash Volcano Brown fine wood, plus a fine wood insert for the steering wheel.

By John Halas

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