First BMW family hatch

15/01/13

By Peter Hayward
Driving Force

BMW’s Concept Active Tourer looks ready for production and could be the company’s first plug-in hybrid.

It’s a family-sized five door, five seat MPV, with both electric and petrol engines and for the first time in a BMW, it will have a transverse engine and front wheel drive.

The growth in sales of larger cars is stagnant at the moment, while sales of smaller cars is rising steadily as people downsize and go for better efficiency and economy.

The drivetrain comes from the company’s i8 coupe concept, with the petrol turbo 1.5-litre three cylinder engine driving the front wheels and the electric motor driving the rears.

The car will run on battery power alone for almost 20 miles and combined the two power units deliver a total of 190bhp, which should be enough for BMW-style performance.

Driven carefully however the company claims 113 miles per gallon and ultra-low emissions of just 60 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

Interior

Expect a premium quality, spacious and versatile interior and a raised seating position giving good vision all round.

Leather trim, a heads-up instrument display, clever glass that can be darkened at the touch of a button and a new-style multifunction instrument display are all part of the package.

FAST FACTS

BMW Concept Active Tourer                                   

Price: n/a

Mechanical: 190bhp, 1,498cc, 3cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via automatic gearbox and electric motor driving rear wheels

Max speed: 125mph

0-62mph: 8 seconds

Combined mpg: 113

Insurance group: n/a

CO2 emissions: 60g/km

BIK rating: 5%

Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited miles

Main rival: Toyota Prius