Here is the car which seals BMW’s entry into fuddy-duddy territory: the 2 Series Gran Tourer.

It’s BMW’s first seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), but the announcement comes as no surprise given it’s essentially the 2 Series Active Tourer (which debuted in Singapore last year and which we tested here) with a bit of stretching and an extra row of seats. It isn’t BMW’s first seven-seater though, as that distinction belongs to the big SUV, the X5.

The 2GT is the latest addition to the 2 Series family, which began with the 2 Series Coupe, followed by the 2AT, then the 2 Series Cabriolet (which we just drove in Texas, read about it here). The two-door models have different architecture from the MPV-styled ones.

The 2AT is BMW’s first front-wheel drive model, and shares platform and drivetrain technology with the new Mini, which we’ve also tested (One, Cooper D) and a five-door model has been announced here too.

Like the current 3 Series and 5 Series Gran Tourers, the 2GT is larger, taller and heavier than the model it’s based on: At 4,556mm long, 1,800mm wide and 1,608mm tall with a 2,780mm wheelbase, it’s 214mm longer, with a 110mm increase to wheelbase, while also being 53mm taller. A mass of 1,470kg also means it’s 75kg heavier than the 2AT.

For its global debut, the car is being launched with three diesel and two gasoline engines: the 216d has a three-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine with 116bhp, the 218d has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with 150bhp, while the 220d has the same engine, but with 190bhp and all-wheel drive.

Like the 2AT though, it’s not likely the oil-burners are for Singapore. The gasoline engine options are the familiar 218i, with a turbocharged 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine (as seen in the new Mini) that has 136bhp and 220Nm of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, achieves 0-100km/h in 9.5 seconds (strangely, 0.1 seconds quicker than the 218i Active Tourer), with efficiency figures of 5.3L/100km and 125g/km of CO2.

The range-topper, for now, is the 220i, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine (and eight-speed automatic gearbox) that generates 192bhp and 280Nm of torque. It does 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds, with efficiency figures at 6.0L/100km and 140g/km.

According to the press release, the third row of seats are a cost option, but we don’t see any buyers of the 2GT not opting for them. For families with many young children, the 2GT will be a boon, since BMW says all five of the rear seats can accommodate full-sized child seats as well. The third row of seats fold fully flat when not in use. Luggage capacity is quoted at 645-litres with five seats, and 1,095-litres with all seats down. Boot space with three rows in use isn’t quoted.

BMW has yet to confirm a local launch date for the 2GT, but there’s little chance the car won’t be sold here, given the popularity of seven-seaters in Singapore.