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BMW electrifies the 2 Series Active Tourer with a plug-in prototype

BMW is developing a hybrid version of its 2 Series Active Tourer. At the company's Innovation Days 2015, we're finally getting to see the fruits of that electric labor with a prototype for a plug-in hybrid version of the front-wheel-drive hatchback. The Bavarians aren't keeping a secret that they intend to build a model like this in the future. But like the rest of the Active Tourer family, it's likely to remain unavailable to US buyers. BMW is already somewhat familiar with the realm of plug-ins with its i sub-brand and forthcoming X5 xDrive40e PHEV. This 2 Series Active Tourer is largely an adaptation of some of that tech. Up front, there's the company's transversely mounted, 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine making 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and it's linked to a six-speed automatic gearbox. A generator on the front axle can also briefly boost output by 20 hp and 111 lb-ft, or help charge the rear-mounted battery. At the back is an electric motor making 87 hp and 122 lb-ft with a two-speed transmission spinning the rear axle. All of this is linked together via the Dynamic Stability Control to shuffle around power as necessary. The hybrid system generally prioritizes using electric power at speeds below 50 miles per hour and kicks on the engine from there. Depending on the settings, drivers can also force it into EV mode with a maximum range predicted at nearly 24 miles. BMW claims the 2 Series Active Tourer PHEV could get to 62 mph in a brisk 6.4 seconds, and the company estimates the setup can return the equivalent of 118 miles per gallon on the European cycle. While there's a lot of equipment to package together in this system, BMW claims that interior room is identical to the purely internal combustion version. The hybrid battery is under the rear seat, and propulsion for the back wheels is centered around the axle. As a prototype, the automaker isn't really talking pricing yet beyond stating buyers "do not have to pay a high premium for the technology." 2. BMW eDrive in the pipeline for further BMW models: The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer plug-in hybrid prototype. The advent of plug-in hybrid variants in various model series from the BMW brand is making all-electric driving with zero local emissions in a premium car a possibility for an ever-increasing number of target groups.

Car subscription services: A slow, expensive start — but the potential is huge

Americans are used to paying for subscriptions — to magazines and cable television, for instance — but experience shows they'll cancel when the price of admission gets too high, or there are more tempting alternatives. Cord cutters ditched nearly 1.5 million pay-TV subscriptions in 2017, according to a survey by Leichtman Research Group. Cable TV started out cheap with basic offerings, and then got expensive. The auto industry's subscription offerings are new, but they're starting out costly, and not price-competitive with traditional leasing. The upside is that they take the hassle out of car ownership for busy people by letting the service take care of maintenance, insurance, licensing and taxes. And they give consumers choice, often allowing relatively painless switches between different cars in the automakers' lineup. Subscription services also point the way toward an ownership-free auto experience, and offer an easy transition to a potential world where ride- and car-sharing will be dominant. Subscriptions are here to stay, but consumers may take a while to "get" them. Lincoln's subscription service for lightly used 2015 to 2017 models, offered through the Ford-owned Canvas beginning this year, got off to a slow start. Many early subscribers canceled. Last month, Cadillac announced it would " temporarily pause" its $1,800-per-month Book subscription service for "adjustments" as of December 1. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Snags with the back-end technology used to support the service made some customer-service functions tedious and time-consuming, adding costs for the company." The challenge for automakers is to come up with a strategy that offers consumers a compelling, affordable option to regular ownership, and one that can also make a profit. I think they'll find that sweet spot, but they're not there yet. Jack Nerad, former executive editorial director at Kelley Blue Book and author of " The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying or Leasing a Car," points out that "A lot of people expected that subscriptions would be very valuable for people who wanted inexpensive transportation, but the reality is quite the opposite. Subscriptions are offering more choices for the wealthy.

European car sales up 8% in February

Three weeks ago an analyst increased projections for European car sales this year, expecting them to climb three percent compared to last year instead of 2.7 percent. That number is a postive sign after years of hard times but it turns out February was especially good, overall European sales climbing eight percent on a wave of southern European recovery and discounts - and this comes after five months of gains including January's 7.2-percent jump over the year before.
The only country of Europe's five largest markets to post a decline was France, just as it did in January, Germany, the UK and Italy posting solid double-digit numbers, Spain rocking the charts with an 18-percent increase because of a government program to encourage trade-ins.
The only brand to miss the wave was Volkswagen, dropping 0.8 percent as it watched the double-digit growth at sister brands Audi, Seat and Skoda lift the Volkswagen Group sales up by seven-percent. Peugeot overcame flat sales at Citroën to improve the group by 3.5 percent, BMW and the Mercedes-Benz/Smart combo rose by four percent, the Fiat group jumped 5.8 percent, Ford was up 11 percent, the Renault Group 11.5 percent, General Motors 12 percent and the Toyota clan by 14 percent.