The Concept Active Tourer is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) based on the drivetrain of the BMW i8 concept car. This combines a new transversely mounted 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine mounted at the front, with an electric motor driving the rear wheels. The electric motor is capable of driving the Concept Active Tourer for almost 20 miles on battery power alone. Combined, the two power systems deliver more than 190PS to ensure the sporty performance expected of a BMW. 

The electric motor alone can deliver 200Nm of torque from standstill, allowing the Concept Active Tourer to accelerate from zero to 62mph in less than eight seconds and onto a top speed of 125mph.

The PHEV powertrain is also extremely fuel-efficient, with a combined fuel economy of 113mpg and CO2 emissions of less than 60g/km. The batteries can be recharged from any 220-volt domestic power socket, however they also recuperate energy from the electric motor during deceleration, while the petrol engine also incorporates a high-voltage generator to charge them on demand.

The smooth and spontaneous new three-cylinder 1.5-litre TwinPower Turbo petrol engine, derived from BMW's six-cylinder power unit, features high-precision direct fuel injection, fully variable valve control, VALVETRONIC and turbocharging to help maximise efficiency. A raft of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies, including Auto Start-Stop and ECO PRO mode, help to achieve such efficiencies.

The drive system can even anticipate its energy needs using data provided by the satellite navigation so that it can calculate the best times to charge the battery or apply electric drive, resulting in energy savings of up to 10%.