A more dashingly styled SUV sibling to the subcompact BMW X1, this X2, caught testing at the Nürburgring, is part of the brand’s master plan to ditch no niche unfilled in its crossover lineup. BMW already develops the X1, X3, X4, X5, and X6– and the X7 has been verified– so an X2 was a no-brainer.
As crossovers become the default vehicle type in the United States (and in other places), they’re increasingly unanchored from their actual square-back shape. Buyers who desire a raised seating position but find the BMW X1 prosaically practical might be drawn to the X2, which stresses model over usefulness. In these spy images we can observe that, compared to the X1, the X2 has a greater beltline, a steeper windscreen angle, a slimmer greenhouse, and a less upright rear liftgate. The entire model appears to hew carefully to that of the X2 concept.
The X2 will ride on BMW’s UKL platform, a transverse-engine, front-wheel-drive structure that also underpins the X1, the Europe-market 2-series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer, and the newest generation of Minis. UKL likewise supports all-wheel drive.
BMW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is utilized in the X1 and throughout the Mini lineup. The engine creates 228 horse power in the X1; we would not be shocked to see a small bump in output for the X2. An M Performance version likewise is possible. And because the X1 solely sets this engine with an eight-speed automatic, figure that it will be the sole transmission offering (although the six-speed stick from the Minis would appear to be at least theoretically possible). Where the X2 might differ from its numerically lower sibling remains in the number of driven wheels. The X1 is front-drive with optional four-wheel drive, however the X2 is most likely to be AWD only.
Some of its major competitors would be Audi Q3, Infiniti QX30, Mercedes-Benz GLA-class.
Approximated arrival the BMW X2 is less than a year away and ought to reach dealerships at the beginning of 2018. Pricing of the model could be $38,000.
