Just a few days ago, now technically last week, some pictures emerged on the lifestyle-centric Highsnobiety website that looked like curiously professional pictures of the X2, BMW’s newest addition to their crossover/SUV range and the more coupe-esque sibling to the second-generation X1.
Our impressions stand that the ‘new’ X2 doesn’t really look like it brings a significant amount of flair or desirability over the already very good crossover that it’s derived from. Contrasting that against the dramatic and unabashedly sporty cues of the X2 concept, this pre-production model dressed in urban camouflage looks a rather underwhelming.
In the case of the X6 versus the X5 and the X4 versus the X3, a clear concession has been made to the gods of very subjective style at the expense of rear headroom, ride comfort, and perceived good taste. While we do not necessarily think the even-numbered members of BMW’s ‘X’ family do a particularly good job of acquitting themselves on the visual front, we do acknowledge that their clear-enough distinction does have a clear appeal to many.
But with the X2, BMW seems to have taken a more conservative route with that roofline, looking nearly as square and - dare we say - practical. Sure, the belt line seems to have risen over the X1 and there are hints of a more hunkered stance here, but none are changes significant enough to build hype in our books.
And that’s the central disconnect here, as BMW themselves have released these images with a kind of deliberate spy shot theme to them, evidenced by the obstructed foreground and distance (most of these are cropped to show more of the car). The look of it is a little lacklustre; it doesn’t successfully build anticipation around its imminent unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, and even the wheels are odd - they’re small (16s?) and have plastic cut outs between the metallic spokes.
Are they there to channel air away from the wheel well to improve aerodynamics, and if so have BMW taken a leaf out of the Toyota Prius’ playbook? Why? So many questions, but perhaps that’s exactly what those sneaky rascals up in Munich want. Hype through obfuscation, and riding that wave of confusion to more curious eyeballs on the X2’s actual production launch. Setting the bar lower and over-delivering on the final product.
With any luck, it’ll be the coupe-ified X1 most of us expect it to be. And if not, well, we’ll have some follow up questions as appropriate. What we do know with some certainty is that it will be powered by the same range of turbocharged petrol and diesel four-cylinders that are ubiquitous in most BMWs, such as the X1, to which this should mirror almost exactly.
However, considering its positioning as a sportier alternative to the X1, a range-topping sub-M model with their B58 3.0-litre straight-six engine could be on the cards, doubtless with their xDrive system sending drive to all corners instead of the default front wheels as dictated by the its UKL platform.
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