The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer may have been a disappointing appearance to most brand enthusiasts, due to its front-wheel-drive layout, but the Bavarian manufacturer hopes to score big with the compact MPV in both North America and Europe.

The regular 2 Series Active Tourer, which is powered by a tiny, 1.5-liter, inline-three unit rated at 136 horsepower, will be followed by an M Sport version with a plug-in hybrid->ke147 model to arrive shortly after.

Unlike its gasoline-exclusive counterparts, which will require an xDrive option to get all four wheels moving, the plug-in hybrid will feature an all-wheel-drive setup by default. Although BMW->ke178 has yet to reveal any details, the same three-cylinder engine is likely to be in charge of the front axle, while an electric->ke1030 motor will be added to take care of the rear wheels.

Total output is expected to sit around the 200-horsepower mark, with 136 horsepower coming from the conventional mill and the rest provided by the silent, battery-powered motor. As for mileage, the Active Tourer Plug-in Hybrid should return at least 50 mpg when using both units, though it won't be able to travel more than around 20 miles in EV mode.

Styling-wise, the hybrid version won't be any different than the gasoline Active Hybrid, with only a few badges to highlight its greener nature. The MPV has already been spotted testing in Germany so we might see it in production form by the end of the year.

Click past the jump to read more about the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer Plug-In Hybrid.

Spy Shots

May 14, 2014 - First testing session

Competitors

Ford C-Max Energi

The first-ever production plug-in hybrid to come from Ford->ke31, the C-Max Energi was shown as a concept car at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show and released for public use about a year and half later. The front-wheel drive MPV is motivated by a 2.0-liter, Atkinson cycle, four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor delivering 188 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque. Power travels to the wheels with help from a CVT transmission.

When operated in EV mode, the C-Max Energi is capable of reaching a top speed of 85 mph, a figure that increases to 115 mph when the hybrid mode is activated. Also fitted with a regenerative braking system, the drivetrain is able to reuse about 95 percent of the energy a conventional vehicle normally loses during braking.

The C-Max Energi has an EPA rating in hybrid-gasoline mode of 43 mpg, while its all-electric range stands at 21 miles. The plug-in hybrid is price from $32,920 before any incentives and discounts.

2014 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer