New BMW 2 Series Active Tourer launched

  BMW has introduced its first ever front wheel drive vehicle with radical styling and a three pot engine in just £23k.  Versatile five seat MPV  Three cylinder turbocharged engine  Fuel economy of 70mpg This is a new BMW 2-series Active Tourer MPV with an adaptable five-seat interior which made its much awaited debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. The new BMW is likely to go on sale in September and the prices are confirmed to be below £23k.The 2-series Active Tourer espouses a transversely mounted engine and standard front-wheel drive. It is very first time ever that BMW is using this layout for a fully fledged BMW series-production model, but it is set to strengthen an imposing assembly of new BMW’s. It will also be the first time when BMW is using the three cylinder engine for any BMW after MINI. This model is to be offered with three-cylinder power, a compact new 1.5-litre petrol engine with turbocharger, which is same as the one featured in the new MINI hatchback.   Primarily, the 2-series Active Tourer will work on a three-pot direct-injection petrol and 4-cylinder common-rail diesel engines exclusively shared with the new MINI. More engines are planned to be introduced from early 2015, these include four-cylinder petrol and three-cylinder diesels. With these front wheel drive models, a six speed transmission will be used as standard but an eight speed transmission is kept as optional while some trims are expected to be all wheel drive.   Initial version of Active Tourer is the 218i Active Tourer powered by a three-cylinder turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine which is capable of producing 134bhp and 162lb ft of torque. It will be joined at launch by the 218d, which has a 2.0-litre four-pot turbodiesel with 148bhp of power and 243lb-ft of pulling power and an average fuel economy of 69.9mpg. By next year, you will also be able to decide between further three front-wheel-drive models as well as four-wheel-drive 225i Xdrive and 220d Xdrive models.