BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, Active Tourer facelift unveiled

The practical BMW 2 Series duo get aesthetic and mechanical updates for 2018.

BMW has updated its 2 Series Gran Tourer and Active Tourer MPVs, giving them refreshed design and updated powertrains.

Design-wise, the two MPVs gain subtle tweaks on the outside. Up front, the signature kidney grille has slightly grown in size and the bumper now sports larger air intakes. At the rear, the facelifted versions now have bigger exhaust pipes and revised bumpers.

Bigger changes come in the form of what lies under the hood. All the powertrains have been made more fuel efficient, thanks to what BMW calls ‘friction-reducing’ machining techniques. Also, specific to the diesel engines is a selective catalytic reduction system, which helps reduce NOx emissions. To further aid the efficiency, fuel injection system has also been updated.

For 2018, the 2 Series Gran Tourer and Active tourer also gain a new 7-speed dual-clutch Steptronic transmission with paddle shifts. The German company claims that the long seventh gear keeps revs low and therefore ensures lower fuel consumption on cross-country and motorway routes. The previously available 8-speed torque converter is still available with the high-torque engines and has been made more efficient. BMW is still offering the 6-speed manual on the MPVs, however, only with the smaller-engine models.

A new addition to the range in 2018 is the 225xe iPerformance plug-in hybrid. Its electric drivetrain offers an electric range of 45km and teams up with a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder twin-turbo engine to deliver a combined power of 221bhp and 385Nm, helping it spring from 0 –100km/h in 6.7 seconds.

The 225xe iPerformance can recharge its battery to a certain extent via recuperation, i.e., regeneration of braking energy during a journey. Owners will need around 2.5 hours to fully recharge the lithium-ion cells from a standard domestic power socket using the standard charging cable. Faster charging is possible from a BMW ‘i Wallbox’, which can top up the battery in around 1.5 hours. The i Wallbox also offers auxiliary functions such as staggered charging, integration into the home's photovoltaic system and control via smartphone.

The updated 2018 BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and Active tourer will go on sale in global markets in May 2018. There is no information on India launch of these two models.