BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer makes global debut
BMW’s upcoming range of front-wheel drive models receives its second member with the 2 Series Gran Tourer officially making its global debut. Effectively a 2 Series Active Tourer stretched to accommodate an extra row of seats, the Gran Tourer will be the first compact MPV offered by a premium car maker with an option for seven seats.
Sharing the same UKL transverse-engine platform of the BMW Group, the 2 Gran Tourer is 214mm longer and 53mm taller than the Active Tourer, stretching the tape measure at 4,556mm long by 1,800mm wide by 1,608mm tall. The Gran Tourer’s width, front and rear tracks, as well as front overhangs are identical to the Active Tourer; its 214mm additional length distributed almost evenly between its wheelbase (+110mm, 2,780mm) and rear overhangs (+104mm, 928mm). On the scales, the Gran Tourer is some 75kg heavier than an equivalent Active Tourer.
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Besides liberating space to accommodate an extra row of seats, the Gran Tourer’s additional length also translates to more room for your cargo or golf bags. Compared to the Active Tourer, which offers anywhere between 468 and 1,510 litres of luggage space, cargo capacity of the Gran Tourer starts from 645 and goes all the way to 1,905 litres with seats fully down. Specifying the optional third row seats reduces that volume to 560 – 1,820 litres.
Powering the Gran Tourer is BMW’s new range of all-aluminium modular petrol and diesel engines all featuring turbocharging and direct injection. A total of five engine options – two petrol and three diesel – are being rolled out at launch time with a further two – one petrol and one diesel – to be added later.
Following a strict mantra displacing only 500cc per cylinder, the 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplants are paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard with automatic gearboxes offered as optional upgrades – six-speed ‘boxes for the triples and eight-speeders for the four-potters. All-wheel drive is offered with the highest-powered diesel variant, namely the 220d xDrive Gran Tourer.
Other technologies packed into the engines include Double VANOS variable cam timing control and Valvetronic variable valve control in the petrol engines and variable turbine turbocharging in the diesels. All engines are Euro 6 compliant with outputs ranging from 116 to 192hp and maximum torque rated from 220 to 400Nm. Depending on tyre size, rated fuel consumption goes no higher than 6.4 l/100km managed by the 220i with manual transmission. As with all current-day BMWs, drivers can call up an ultra-efficient Eco Pro driving mode for extra frugal consumption.
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Pictures: Official BMW release.
