BMW goes Outdoor with Concept Active Tourer

BMW’S first front-wheel-drive model is about to get a bigger brother.

The German luxury car-maker today revealed it is set to show the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor next month.

Details are scarce, but BMW has revealed that the new concept is likely to be a high-riding, all-wheel drive SUV version of the city-friendly plug-in hybrid Concept Active Tourer hatchback unveiled at last year’s Paris motor show.

“BMW will be entering new terrain,” the release announcing next week’s showing of the concept car at OutDoor, a German convention focussing on adventure said.

“The second concept version of the BMW Concept Active Tourer being presented this summer is aimed at meeting the special needs of an outdoor and leisure-time oriented target group,” the release says.

“The BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor combines comfort and dynamic design with a high level of spatial functionality and intelligent access to BMW ConnectedDrive services.”

BMW has provided few other details, but the range of topics it will speak on about the concept car allude to an always-on data connection that helps the driver plan off-road routes.

“Are outdoor adventures and experiences in nature in line with the omnipresence of digital networking and information channels on the one hand and the automobile on the other?” it asks.

BMW has flagged the more city-friendly version of the Concept Active Tourer as a potential Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Audi A1 rival when it launches sometime next year.

However, it is not known if the Outdoor will use the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine as drives the front wheels in the city-going version.

BMW said that the concept car can pair the engine with a 200Nm electric motor at the rear for a combined system output of more than 140kW, providing the all-paw drive – and grip – that the Outdoor needs for off-roading.

Also unknown is whether the off-road version of the concept will have the same plug-in capacity as the city version, which provides the car with up to 30 kilometres of petrol-free driving range.

BMW says it will reveal more about the Concept Active Tourer Outdoor on July 12.