Although the popularity of MPVs has been declining for years, it is BMW that sticks to the concept of the mid-sized space giants. The brand came up surprisingly in 2014 with the 2-series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer and will soon come with a completely new generation Tourer.
The Tourer models that BMW added to the 2-Series family in 2014 were special in every way. Not only were they the first BMWs with front-wheel drive, they were also the brand’s first MPVs. Not immediately models that warmed the BMW purist, although the consumer briefly walked away with the spatial pair. The Tourer concept is therefore not a one-off exercise. In any case, this year Munich is launching a new 2-Series Tourer, which now more than ever shows its final form.
The 2 Series Gran Tourer is unlikely to be continued
A generation change is often accompanied by a platform change, although this is probably not the case for the upcoming type. The MPV will probably return to the UKL2 / FAAR platform, which is also used by the Mini Countryman and the front-wheel drive third generation 1-series since 2019. Little else has been tampered with the concept. Perhaps the most practical BMW ever has typical BMW rear lights and for the new generation the manufacturer opts for a front that has strong similarities with that of the already mentioned 1-series. A somewhat convex nose, with the headlights mounted slightly higher than the grille in the front. Striking detail: the side mirrors are no longer attached to the A-pillar, but are rooted in the doors themselves.
New BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (illustration)
In terms of dimensions, the 2 Series Active Tourer only seems to grow slightly compared to the current model. Count on slightly increased outer dimensions and a marginally longer wheelbase. Although this undoubtedly increases the interior space, the total space available at the bottom of the line decreases. That’s because the larger 2-Series Gran Tourer, with three rows of seats and space for seven occupants, is very unlikely to return. In terms of engines, the 2 Series Tourer will be available with a range of petrol and diesel engines, with both three and four cylinders. In any case, you can also count on one or more plug-in hybrid variants. The current type has been available for years as a plug-in hybrid 225xe.
Since its Dutch market launch in 2014, 15,086 units of the 2-series Tourers have been sold in our country. This means that more 2-series Tourers in our country have found an owner than the X5 that has been on the market since 2000. The MPV is even on the verge of overtaking the X1 in the BMW rankings, of which just over 16,000 units have been sold over several generations since 2009.