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NEWS
2 Series hybrid in 2015
First front-driver to debut plug-in system that will spread through small BMWs and MINIsBMW's first front-wheel drive car, the 2 Series Active Tourer, is expected by the end of 2015 to add the eDrive plug-in hybrid system it showcased as a concept.
The system, which was revealed along with the Concept Active Tourer at the Paris motor show in 2012, drove the front wheels via BMW's new turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder direct injection petrol engine while a synchronous e-motor drove the rear wheels.
The drivetrain served the purpose of showing off BMW's intention to build a front-wheel drive car based on its new UKL front/all-wheel drive architecture and the 'all-wheel drive' plug-in hybrid drivetrain designed for it.
"I do not know the exact date but I think [the hybrid launches] towards the end of 2015," Senior 2 Series engineer Martin Schuster told motoring.com.au at last week's international launch in Austria he said.
"That is an opportunity for us," Schuster added. "I think the hybrid discussion is also a very interesting one."
Asked if the production eDrive system would closely follow the one shown with the CAT concept, he said: "You know the concept car, you know the BMW strategy with concept cars. It is not totally wrong."
BMW claimed eDrive delivered a combined 140kW power output, a 30km-plus hybrid range with electricity generated off both axles and stored in a li-ion battery pack. Other figures included sub 2.5L/100k average fuel consumption, a sub eight secs 0-100km/h time and a 200km/h top speed.
BMW has previously announced the intention to add a hybrid variant to every model range in its lineup, although by necessity the design will vary according to the architecture of the vehicle involved.
For instance it has already offered parallel hybrid 3, 5 and 7 Series rear-wheel drive Activehybrids and it intends to put the X5 eDrive SUV with a plug-in xDrive all-wheel drive drivetrain into production this year.
Then there's the spectacular i8 supercar, which has an e-motor driving the front axle and a triple-cylinder engine at the rear, the rear-engined i3 EV and its range extender close relation.
The system used by the CAT is designed for UKL models, which eventually means the potential to match up with the entire MINI range, the 1 Series family, the X1 compact SUV, the mooted X2 'coupe' and other as yet secret models.
Asked about the system, 2 Series Active Tourer launch manager Stefan Karch said: "We think about electrification in each model, so we won't offer that from market launch but it is a possible solution.
"It is a solution we want to have in each model, whether it is 1 or 2 Series and beyond."
Meanwhile, an xDrive version of the Active Tourer employing an orthodox on-demand all-wheel drive system is expected to launch in Europe by the end of 2014. It is not expected to come to Australia.
However, a seven-seat Active Tourer which launches in early 2105 is more likely. It retains the same 2670mm wheelbase as the five-seater motoring.com.au has sampled in the last week, but extends its body by 200mm to accommodate the third row.
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Written byBruce Newton
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