Photo: BMW
Today BMW unveiled a part of its plans for the future, including how they see plug-in hybrids and hydrogen-powered cars evolving. This allowed us to take a look at what they are working on right now and the cars that will be coming out shortly.
There are plenty of innovations in development but what caught our attention the most was the hybrid powertrain of the 2 Series Active Tourer. It is, if you will, a sort of reverse version of the one used in the BMW i8.
For the front-wheel drive people carrier, the Germans opted for a different layout compared to the other two plug-in hybrids sold under the main brand. Unlike the BMW X5 xDrive40e and the BMW 330e models, the 2 Series Active Tourer is built atop a different platform and has its engine mounted transversally instead of longitudinally. Therefore, a different solution was needed.
Up front, there’s a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine making 136 HP and 220 Nm (162 lb-ft) of torque. You might recognize this plant from the Mk3 MINI Cooper hardtop and you’d be right as they are one and the same.
The power from the mill is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed Steptronic transmission. On the i8, we have the same number of gears but the 1.5-liter engine is powering the rear axle instead.
Then there’s an additional high-voltage generator for the front axle that helps the internal combustion engine for brief periods of time with an additional 15 kW (20 HP) and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque. When it doesn’t help out with some extra grunt, the generator simply provides electric power for the high-voltage battery.
Last but not least, there’s an electric motor located above the rear axle that uses a two-speed transmission and power electronics. This one sends 88 HP and 165 Nm (122 lb-ft) of torque only to the rear wheels. Sounds familiar?
Apart from the fact that this car has the same number of electric motors, the same transmission and layout as the i8 (only in reverse order, the electric motor powering the rear wheels while the ICE powers the front axle) it also boasts with the same kind of electronics on board, including the same DSC program.
All of this tech allows the 223e Active Tourer to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in 6.5 seconds and return an average fuel consumption of around 2 l/100 km (117 mpg). The pure electric range will be 38 kilometers (24 miles).
The best news about it if you’re concerned about the practicality of the car is that the extra batteries have been stored under the rear seat bench and the power electronics are in no way cutting into the interior space. That being said, you get the same capacity of the main load compartment as in the regular 2 Series Active Tourer.
A launch date and price tag haven’t been set yet. However, BMW claims that prices won’t be sky high but “will be in the range of existing engine variants with comparable power outputs.” That’s good news for everyone.
For the front-wheel drive people carrier, the Germans opted for a different layout compared to the other two plug-in hybrids sold under the main brand. Unlike the BMW X5 xDrive40e and the BMW 330e models, the 2 Series Active Tourer is built atop a different platform and has its engine mounted transversally instead of longitudinally. Therefore, a different solution was needed.
Up front, there’s a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine making 136 HP and 220 Nm (162 lb-ft) of torque. You might recognize this plant from the Mk3 MINI Cooper hardtop and you’d be right as they are one and the same.
The power from the mill is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed Steptronic transmission. On the i8, we have the same number of gears but the 1.5-liter engine is powering the rear axle instead.
Then there’s an additional high-voltage generator for the front axle that helps the internal combustion engine for brief periods of time with an additional 15 kW (20 HP) and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque. When it doesn’t help out with some extra grunt, the generator simply provides electric power for the high-voltage battery.
Last but not least, there’s an electric motor located above the rear axle that uses a two-speed transmission and power electronics. This one sends 88 HP and 165 Nm (122 lb-ft) of torque only to the rear wheels. Sounds familiar?
Apart from the fact that this car has the same number of electric motors, the same transmission and layout as the i8 (only in reverse order, the electric motor powering the rear wheels while the ICE powers the front axle) it also boasts with the same kind of electronics on board, including the same DSC program.
All of this tech allows the 223e Active Tourer to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in 6.5 seconds and return an average fuel consumption of around 2 l/100 km (117 mpg). The pure electric range will be 38 kilometers (24 miles).
The best news about it if you’re concerned about the practicality of the car is that the extra batteries have been stored under the rear seat bench and the power electronics are in no way cutting into the interior space. That being said, you get the same capacity of the main load compartment as in the regular 2 Series Active Tourer.
A launch date and price tag haven’t been set yet. However, BMW claims that prices won’t be sky high but “will be in the range of existing engine variants with comparable power outputs.” That’s good news for everyone.
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