BMW product and marketing people have for years rejected the idea of a MPV in their lineup. Now, BMW is previewing an upcoming front-wheel drive MPV with some off-road qualities at Frankfurt. BMW has been officially unveiled in Frankfurt their all new 2014 Active Tourer Outdoor Concept.
The new concept states compact dimensions, sporty design with generous levels of interior space. Variable rear compartment designed to accommodate sports and leisure equipment. Power is provided through a transversely mounted 1.5-litre petrol engine with front-wheel drive. New plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drive concept combines the benefits of an electric motor and the attributes of a traditional combustion engine to outstanding effect. Exclusive Gold Race Orange exterior paintwork accentuates the sporting appearance of the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor. Easy-care, hard-wearing interior materials, such as MoonWhite and MoonRock Grey leather, stand up well to contact with outdoor equipment. A carrier system for two bicycles (integrated into the interior) and other clever details make the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor the ideal companion for active recreational sports enthusiasts.
The plug-in hybrid also offers a preview of drive variants that promise to feature in compact class vehicles in the future. The BMW eDrive concept familiar from the BMW i8, which enables the car to run on electric power alone (and therefore produce zero local emissions), will cover all the brand’s electric and plug-in hybrid drive systems in the years ahead. eDrive spans all the components of the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor’s electric drive system, such as the electric motor (developed in-house), the lithium-ion high-performance battery and the intelligent energy management system. The combination of a combustion engine and an electric motor delivers sporting performance coupled with average fuel consumption of approximately 2.5 l/100 km (113 mpg) and C02 emissions of under 60 g/km.
With an exterior length of 4,350 millimeters, width of 1,833 millimeters and height of 1,576 millimeters, the plug-in hybrid blends compact dimensions with a sporty design. The long wheelbase (2,670 millimeters), a higher roofline and a compact, transversely mounted engine sending its power to the front wheels combine to deliver generous interior space. The variable rear compartment of the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor offers both all-round everyday usability and sufficient space for outdoor sports equipment, as the hybrid drive system’s batteries are fitted underneath the load compartment floor.
One example of the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor’s clever utilization of space is the carrier system for two bicycles presented for the first time in Friedrichshafen. In contrast to conventional solutions, this carrier is not mounted on the outside of the vehicle, but instead integrated into the interior to save space. As well as keeping bicycles dry and clean, this also has the advantage of protecting them extremely effectively from theft and damage. And when not in use, the carrier system disappears away into the side structure of the car or the load compartment floor, without restricting interior space.
The extended functionality of the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor is underpinned by a level load compartment floor created by folding down the rear seats. The carrier system is mounted against the left side of the boot area and consists of a rail system with a pivoting bracket. The rail is fitted with two mounts which hold the top tube of each bicycle in place. The bikes’ saddles must be removed and front wheels detached before they are secured in place, which, with the quick-release mechanisms of modern sports bikes, should take only a few seconds. More details to come soon.
