BMW wants to conquer you with its 2 Series Active Tourer [Gallery]

BMW has claimed that the 2 Series Active Tourer (pictured) will have a 75% conquest rate – in other words 75% of sales will come from buyers new to the brand, or coming from other brands, which is kind of obvious really unless perhaps youâ€re new to cars, period.

Itâ€s also obvious why really, because when you look at it – the 2 Series Active Tourer – itâ€s more than possible that those looking to buy one wonâ€t even realise theyâ€re looking at a BMW. Is this a good thing? For BMW probably yes, which has a penchant for plugging every possible hole in the market, real or invented.

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A shocking and interesting statistic that came out a few years ago revealed that 80% of BMW 1 Series drivers believed that they were driving a front wheel drive car. I know, sacrilege!

BMW obviously took this as more than a hint because the 2 Series Active Tourer is the first BMW (branded) vehicle to use the companyâ€s front-wheel drive platform. It isnâ€t new, we know this already, itâ€s already doing service in the MINI range and always has.

Back to the Beemer, which is somewhere between a hatchback, a Honda FRV and Mercedes-Benz B-Class, and probably views the latter as its real competition. It doesnâ€t have the trick 3+3 seating arrangement of the Honda, instead using the common 2+3 layout.

Families are who the 2 Series Active Tourer will be aiming to conquer and in that regard it should succeed with a long wheelbase, and front wheel drive, which frees up the cabin for maximum interior space — the transmission tunnel in a traditional rear wheel drive layout is a massive space killer. A raised roofline and elevated seating position meanwhile should pull at the crossover crowd.

An array of small capacity blown petrol and diesel engines will be offer as well as a new 1.5 litre three cylinder engine due to make its debut in the Active Tourer and to be badged 218i. At launch a 225i and 218d complete the trio of engine options.