BMW has shown some of the drive technologies it’s working on during a driving event at the Miramas proving grounds in southern France. Besides the 5-Series GT and i8 prototypes fitted with hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, the automaker presented the prototype of a 2-Series Active Tourer with plug-in hybrid drive.

The BMW 2-Series Active Tourer plug-in hybrid prototype is the automaker’s first PHEV with a front/transverse-mounted combustion engine. The vehicle features an 136PS (134hp) 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine driving the front wheels, a high-voltage generator mounted in the front structure and a 65kW (87hp) electric motor sending its power to the rear wheels.

As a result, the car has an all-wheel drive system similar to that of the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, but in this case arranged in a mirror image.

The high-voltage generator on the front axle fulfils three different tasks: it boosts the combustion engine for brief periods with extra output of up to 15kW (20hp) and some 150Nm (111lb-ft) from rest, generates electric power while on the move and feeds it directly to the high-voltage battery, and enables the engine to be started and turned off very smoothly thanks to its higher output compared to conventional starters.

The prototype can cover up to 38 km (23.6 miles) on electric power alone, sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in around 6.5 seconds and average approximately 2 l/100 km (117.6 mpg US or 141.2 mpg UK), equating to CO2 emissions of under 50 g/km (according to the EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles).

BMW says the 2-Series Active Tourer PHEV will reach production and will carry a price similar to existing engine variants with comparable power outputs.

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