Upgrades for reengineered BMW 2 Series Active Tourer line revealed

MANILA: BMW has officially unveiled the reengineered BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, which comes with a host of new features to create an even more appealing concept in the premium compact segment.

The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer features a number of noteworthy upgrades in key areas and innovations previously reserved for the brand’s more expensive models.

The BMW Operating System 8 and the new generation of the BMW iDrive control system with BMW Curved Display also made their debut in the reengineered model. The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer also comes with a range of driver assistance system — said to set a new benchmark in its segment.

The vehicle also features an all-new architecture which is designed for both electrified drive systems and conventional engines. All variants use new engines, the second-generation 48V mild hybrid technology from BMW, and seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission. The vehicle is also built with an upgraded chassis technology to enhance its efficiency and agility.

Customers can select from one diesel and two petrol engines. BMW targets to expand the range by summer 2022 with the addition of two plug-in hybrid models equipped with fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology.

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer comes in three variants: Sport, Luxury, and M Sport. Individualization options will also be made available to ensure that the vehicle will appeal to a wide number of drivers. With its modern style, interior features, advanced technology, and high-powered drivetrains, the vehicle is positioned to continue the first-generation model’s popularity. The pioneer model sold over 430,000 units with around 80% of the buyers being new to the BMW brand.

The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer will be manufactured at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig in Germany. The company ensures sustainability on the vehicle’s production process and a high degree of recyclability at the end of its life.

The vehicle features the iconic BMW kidney grille that comes with a radar sensor for the optional driver assistance systems. It is also equipped with full LED headlights, giving the front end a fresh look. The new design divides the headlights into three clusters for low beam, high beam, and daytime driving light. The M Sport variant also comes with adaptive LED headlights, which include a cornering light function, non-dazzling matrix high beam, urban lights, a motorway beam pattern, and bad weather light.

Two sharply drawn character lines highlight the car when viewed from the side. The BMW grille, raked A-pillars, stretched side window graphic, and slim C-pillars not only upgrade the vehicle’s looks but also improve visibility. On the rear, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is equipped with slim light units with LED technology that form a striking L shape.

The Sport variant comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, sport seats with anthracite cloth upholstery, high-gloss Shadowline exterior trim, and parking assistance with reversing camera and park distance control as standard. Meanwhile, the Luxury variant is equipped with 17-inch V-spoke alloy wheels, aluminum exterior trim, Vernasca leather upholstery, and heated front seats. The M Sport variant features a unique front apron design, 18-inch bi-color alloy wheels, adaptive M Sport suspension, folding exterior mirrors, sport seats with Alcantara/Sensatec upholstery, luxury instrument panel, heated seats, Comfort Access, and wireless charging.

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer comes in two non-metallic and nine metallic body colors, including the new Sparkling Copper Grey metallic. 18- and 19-inch wheels are also available as options for the Sport and Luxury variants.

The new model is 32mm longer, 24 mm wider, and 21mm higher than its predecessor. It still has the same wheelbase of 2,670mm, while the track widths have been increased by 25mm at the front and 26mm at the rear. BMW wisely chose the materials to reduce the body’s weight while enhancing rigidity and crash safety. The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer comes with an aluminum bonnet which minimizes weight at the front. It is also equipped with lightweight plastic supports for the doors and lightweight forged wheels to further decrease the body’s weight.

The BMW kidney grille also comes with an active air-flap control system to channel the air flow around the car together with the additional aerodynamic body aids. The vehicle also features a virtually sealed underbody with air guides and exhaust tailpipes which help it achieve a low drag coefficient of 0.26. The new engine and transmission mounting also help improve vibration isolation, providing better acoustic comfort when starting and stopping the engine.

The interior of the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer was completely redesigned. Customers can choose from among five interior trim variants, which include the new Aluminum Hexacube and open-pore fine eucalyptus wood. The control panel contains the new gear selector, Start/Stop button, volume control, and buttons to activate the parking brake, My Modes, park assist, and vehicle settings.

The headroom, shoulder room, elbow room, and knee room for rear seat passengers were also increased.

The vehicle also features newly developed seats that provide improved long-distance comfort and enhanced lateral support. Customers can opt to integrate seat heating on the Sport variant, while six-way electric adjustment with memory, lumbar support, and massage function can be specified as an option for all variants.

The rear outer seats are equipped with Isofix child safety seat fasteners, while the 40:20:40 split rear backrests can be folded down to expand cargo capacity. The boot of the plug-in hybrid variant can accommodate up to 1,370 liters of cargo. The automatic tailgate operation and Comfort Access enables hands-free opening and closing for a more convenient loading and unloading of cargo.

The Sport and Luxury variants come with a sport steering wheel, while the M Sport is equipped with an M leather steering wheel with shift paddles, anthracite M headliner, Sensatec/Alcantara sport seats, M pedals, and an M logo in the information display.

Customers can also opt to add an electric panoramic roof with a new multi-layer roller car blind and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

Two new petrol engines will be available from launch, starting with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder unit that churns out 156hp. It is assisted by a 19hp electric motor for a total output of 170hp and maximum torque of 280Nm. With this powertrain, the BMW 220i Active Tourer is able to accelerate from a standstill to 100kph in just 8.1 seconds. Meanwhile, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit that powers the BMW 223i Active Tourer generates a total output of 218hp and peak torque of 360Nm. Although this variant can accelerate from a standstill to 100kph in 7.0 seconds, it emits only 137 to 149g/km and achieves 42.8 to 47.1mpg.

Meanwhile, the new BMW 218d Active Tourer is equipped with friction-optimized pistons, a graphite coating for the piston skirts, and an active oil separator with map-controlled electric motor to improve overall efficiency. Upgrades were also made on the two-stage turbocharging system, common-rail injection system, and exhaust gas recirculation system. The vehicle’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine delivers 150hp and 360Nm. The new 218d sprints from a standstill to 100kph in 8.8 seconds, while emitting 125 to 138g/km and achieving 53.3 to 58.8mpg.

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is the first-ever model to get the latest version of the seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission. This automatic transmission features all-electric actuation, a wider gear spread, improved shift quality, and increased internal efficiency. It also provides a gear selection strategy based on the route profile and includes a coasting function in all My Modes options. When the engine is switched off, the transmission automatically shifts into the P position.

With the mild hybrid technology, the BMW 223i and 220i Active Tourer variants are now able to deliver improved driving dynamics and efficiency. “The 48V electric motor acts as a starter generator and power booster for the engine and is now integrated into the automatic transmission. It delivers an extra 19hp when pulling away from a standstill, or during mid-range acceleration. The starter generator enhances the smoothness of the Auto Start Stop function, with the energy required stored in a 48V battery located underneath the boot, charged by recuperation during overrun and braking,” BMW explained in a statement.

The plug-in hybrid variants that will be released next year are expected to use the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology which consists of a current-excited electric motor installed in a single housing together with the power electronics and transmission as well as the latest battery technology. The electric motor on both variants acts on the rear wheels, while a three-cylinder petrol engine powers the front wheels.

The BMW 230e xDrive Active Tourer has a maximum output of 326hp, while the BMW 225e xDrive Active Tourer has 245hp. Both vehicles have maximum charging capacity of 3.7kW to 7.4kW. They can be fully charged in just around 2.5 hours, or just under eight hours when using a conventional household socket.

Other remarkable features on the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer are cruise control with brake function, manual speed limit assist, steering and lane control assistant, cloud-based BMW maps navigation system, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, BMW iDrive, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, and remote software upgrades.

Pricing for the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer will start at £30,265. It will officially launched in March 2022.

Photos from BMW

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