Skip to main content

BMW’s front-wheel drive 2 Series Active Tourer gets M sport package in Geneva

BMW brought an M sport package for its front-wheel drive 2 Series Active Tourer to Geneva this week. The special 2 Series comes with an exclusive Estoril Blue paintjob that screams Bimmer. The M sport package also includes the M aerodynamics package and an M sport suspension, along with a choice of 17- or 18-inch wheels, as repoted by BMW blog.

While the M package includes no blistering performance upgrades, the package certainly makes the 2 Series look cooler. So while you won’t break any speed records in your front-drive Bimmer minivan thingy, you can look the part. And, after all, that’s half the battle, isn’t it?

On the inside, the M package replaces the standard steering wheel with a special M leather steering wheel and special upholstered seats.

While the new 2 Series will come with standard front-wheel drive, BMW plans on extending the model range to variants such as an all-wheel drive version.

The new M package is designed to increase the road presence of the new 2 Series. The package for the Active Tourer shows that,it’s making the 2 Series a part of the performance family. Honestly, if a BMW doesn’t have that sporty edge to it, is it really a Bimmer? And is it really worth buying over, say, an Acura?

Interested in the 2 Series Active Tourer? Well, the Euro crowd gets to enjoy the 2 Series Active Tourer in 2014, but we Americans will have to wait until next year for the car to cross the Atlantic.

(Photo credit: BMW blog)

Trevor Dermody
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more