What's all this about?
It's all go at BMW at the moment in terms of facelifts, as here's another couple of model lines getting a midlife update. This time around, it's the 2 Series Active Tourer (five seats) and Gran Tourer (seven seats) getting the tweaking.
Tweaking? So it's not a massive facelift, then?
No, it never is nowadays. Like the MINI models with which they share so much, the 2 Series MPV twins have had barely anything done to the exterior. Spot a new lower airdam, wider kidney grilles, a pair of spaced 90mm-diameter exhausts on four-cylinder models, different light clusters and front fog lamps for models fitted with optional LED technology, plus a bespoke new front apron and rear lower bumper on M Sport models. There are six new alloy wheel designs, two new colours (Sunset Orange and Jucaro Beige) and inside, the iDrive 6 infotainment is drafted in (on either 6.5- or 8.8-inch displays, according to trim grade), as well as a black-panel instrument cluster and new upholsteries.
Most of the work gone on under the bonnets, then?
Nope. The same range of turbocharged petrol and diesel three- and four-cylinder engines is employed. BMW claims that 'extensive efficiency-enhancing modifications to the crankshaft, heat management, valve train and turbocharging' make the TwinPower Turbo units that little bit better on fuel and for emissions. Further, the German company says that, from March 2018, all its diesel engines will employ exhaust gas treatment technology including a diesel particulate filter, NOx absorber catalyst and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, which uses AdBlue to reduce nitrogen oxides in the car's exhaust fumes. All its four-cylinder diesels are twin-turbocharged, as well as being twin-scroll (which is what TwinPower Turbo actually stands for).
Is that it, then?
Not quite. As with the 2018MY MINIs, the 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer models are now optionally available with a seven-speed dual-clutch Steptronic automatic gearbox, alongside the pre-existing six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic (also, confusingly, called Steptronic) units. The 220i will get the seven-speed dual-clutch as standard, while 225i xDrive and 220d models have the eight-speed torque converter from the factory. The 225xe plug-in hybrid, by the way, continues.
And have we got any prices for all this?
On sale from late January, the 2018MY 2 Series Active Tourer starts from £25,840 here in the UK, while the Gran Tourer kicks off at £27,705.
Matt Robinson - 10 Jan 2018