As with any new concept or production car released by BMW, we take a look at its competitors on the market. Yesterday, BMW unveiled their first FWD and multi-purpose vehicle versions (MPV) of small family cars (sometimes also referred to as “compact cars”). The BMW Concept Active Tourer will come to market within two years and will compete against a similar offering from Mercedes-Benz and its B-Class vehicles.
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Based on the sales reports, Mercedes succeeded with the B-Class by offering their customers a vehicle with a little more space and less focus on vehicle dynamics. The premium image of the brand has been maintained, an important aspect when launching a new family of products.
Our photo comparison takes a look at these two vehicles, but a few caveats are in order. First and foremost, the Active Tourer is simply a concept at this moment and the production car will go through styling changes, both inside and outside the vehicle. This is a common trait we have seen across other BMW concepts that came to market in the past versus the final production car. Second, the B-Class in now over a year old, in design terms, and by the time the Active Tourer comes to market, the edgy aspect of a new and fresh design might overshadow the current design lines of the B-Class.
In case you missed our coverage of the BMW Concept Active Tourer, here are some good articles on it:
Videos: BMW Concept Active Tourer
On the Front-wheel-drive BMW or The Ultimate Driving Machine: A Blessing and a Curse
Analysis: BMW Concept Active Tourer
World Premiere: BMW Concept Active Tourer
[Photos: BimmerToday]
the Mercedes looks aged already…..
Merc did try hard to give the new B a design edge, they failed. Should learn from the masters of ‘edge’, BMW.
George and Auto Fan,
Please calm down. If you love Audi and Mercedes-Benz, keep on doing it, but don’t insult people who have other taste in cars than you. We love BMW, and we’ll love it however better cars Audi and MB make. That’s it. But BMW is my only choice since in my opinion they make the best premium cars on the market today. Yes, they lost their performance edge a bit, but the best car doesn’t only consist of performance, but variety of factors as well. So please if you make comments, then make it in a civilized way.
I remember when forums were a place where you could read informed opinion. Now it’s just uneducated kids insulting each other. What happened to the internet?
No worries. We will start deleting trolls. They can go to forums and troll. This is not the place.
i always tend to forget how professional bmwblog is…comparing CONCEPT CAR(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) vs production car. Marvelous ,just marvelous
Oh please. Give me a break. It’s a comparison nothing more. Watch others do the same we do.
Next.
The real one will be even wrost:
http://www.autoevolution.com/news-hd-photo/spyshots-2014-bmw-1-series-gran-turismo-gt-1080p-2
That’s a heavy camouflaged test mule with lots of plastic body panels on top to disguise the final design. Exterior wise, I expect the Active Tourer to maintain about 90% of the concept lines.
I puke at all mercs !