BMW's 2 Series Active Tourer hits the road in China

From left: Karsten Engel, president &CEO, BMW Group Region China, Laura Wang, vice president, sales at BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd and Uwe Stadtler, managing director & CEO, BMW Automotive Finance (China) Co Ltd at the launch ceremony of the Series 2 Active Tourer in Chengdu, Sichuan province on Jan 6. [Photo/China Daily]

German premium automaker BMW unveiled its 2 Series Active Tourer in Chengdu, Sichuan province on Jan 6, a move that many believe will consolidate its position in the compact class segment.

"Demand for premium cars in the compact class is increasing very promisingly, and we believe compact cars will account for one third of our total sales in China in the future," said Karsten Engel, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China.

The 2 Series Active Tourer is a practical size, has a spacious interior and more importantly boasts outstanding agility, something unique for a vehicle in this segment, according to BMW.

The automaker said the model's dynamic performance and fuel economy enable the car to meet the demands of city drivers.

Engel said the model was targeted towards every type of customer－single or married, young or old, as long as they need "a trustworthy companion to enjoy all the beautiful things in life, be it cruising in the city or going out to the countryside with the ones they love."

Dynamic design

The 2 Series Active Tourer has a smooth and dynamic design and cuts a sporty and elegant figure from every angle.

Deftly balanced proportions based on a long wheelbase and short overhangs create a distinctive BMW silhouette.

The bold definition of the bonnet, which goes down to a slightly forward-slanted kidney grille, gives the vehicle the appearance of surging forward even when at rest. And a sharply raked D-pillar adds to this effect.

In addition, the model has a damping ratio of 0.26, comparable to that of the BMW i8.

It also has higher ground clearance than many other sedans and the A-pillar triangle window improves all-round visibility. The model won a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test.