BMW’s upcoming sporty crossover, widely rumoured previously to be called the X2, has broken cover at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. It’s likely that this X2 Concept will resemble the 2018 production model quite closely.
“The BMW Concept X2 is a vehicle for active people looking for a combination of enjoyment and practicality,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The concept displays a new and exciting facet of the BMW brand within the compact segment.”
Despite the design is quite bold and rather appealing, the cues seen here such as the large wheels, two-tone exterior finish, aggressive front design, and more delicately sculpted body are all elements that can easily survive the transition into a production model.
With this in mind, the X2 could mark an evolutionary shift in BMW’s design language, at least for their future SUVs if not the entire line-up. In fact, some clear visual parallels can be seen between this Concept X2 and the Concept Compact Sedan from late 2015.
The X2 currently holds the internal codename F49 and is due to become the sixth SUV model in the BMW stable and second to use their UKL underpinnings - the first being the second-generation X1. This is reflected by how closely the Concept X2 is in size to the X1, measuring 4439mm in height, 1821mm in width, and 1598mm in height.
The fundamental question of whether the X1 needs a sportier sister model is debatable, but BMW is known for creating such variations probably more than any other automaker. The 3 Series has a sportier two-door sibling the 4 Series, a formula repeated by the 5 Series and 6 Series, and more relevantly with buyers being offered the X4 as a sleeker, sportier alternative to the X3.
It’s seemed to work. And given how the X1’s popularity advantage over the other higher-riding BMW models, the X2 should do very well for the German premium marque. Competitors have also thought along similar lines, like JLR did with the Range Rover Evoque, Mercedes-Benz with the GLC Coupe or Audi with the upcoming Q4.
BMW did not disclose what engine choices would be offered in the production X2 or what lives under the bonnet of the Concept X2. However, there’s little evidence to suggest that it won’t mirror that of the X1.
This means a raft of BMW’s B-series turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines as well as well as six-cylinder petrols for more performance-oriented variants. These will likely be mated to either a six-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic sending power, depending on variant selected, to the rear wheels or all four.
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