Luckily for us, in many countries it is mandatory for automakers to clearly label hybrid prototype vehicles for safety reasons in the case of an accident. Now, the question we have about this BMW 2-Series Active Tourer tester is whether it’s a regular or a more advanced plug-in hybrid model. The sticker suggests the former, but we can’t say for sure.
The original BMW 2-Series Active Tourer Concept from 2012 featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain with the electric socket placed behind what looked like a second fuel-door on the driver’s side, but we only see passenger side of this prototype.
Either way, it is very likely that the production car will use a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic as the core powerplant. In the study, the engine was supported by a synchronous electric motor driving the rear wheels and a lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the floor. In pure electric mode, the car was rear-drive.
If the production car features the same setup as the concept, then it is possible it may have a similar output of about 190PS (188hp) together with a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of under eight seconds and a top speed of around 200km/h (124mph).
By John Halas
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
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