BMW has revealed first details of its new X2, an all-new addition to the firm’s X range that will be available to order from mid-November, with first deliveries expected from March 2018.
Merging coupe styling with SUV proportions, from the outside the new X2 carries many of the characteristics seen on its other X siblings, as well showcasing a unique, wider grille design that aims to give the car a broader and sportier appearance.
Full-LED headlights are standard on all but entry models and higher trims also come equipped with alloys up to 20in, further emphasising the car’s sporty look.
Being 20mm shorter and 70mm lower than the X1, you’d expect the X2 to be a smaller car inside; however, the wheelbase of the X1 and X2 are identical at 2,760mm, while the boot has a capacity of 470 litres, only 35 litres down on the X1. The new X2 is built on the same platform as the X1 and Mini Countryman models, as well as the upcoming third-generation 1 Series.
Four trims make up the range; SE, Sport, M Sport and M Sport X. The latter adds plush leather upholstery and an extra grey insert in the front bumper aimed at (and succeeding in) giving the car a more aggressive look.
Included on all cars is a 6.5in touch control display with navigation system, dual-zone climate control, 17in alloys, a powered tailgate and chunky black cladding.
For greater safety and convenience, there is the option of the full-colour BMW head-up display, featured in the Technology Pack, while connected technologies include smartphone integration, Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless charging.
A new service called BMW Connected+ aims to deliver the next level of in-car personalisation and smartphone content integration and includes functions like ‘share live trip status’, which allows the driver to share their current location and time of arrival with business partners, friends or family.
As you would expect from a BMW, the new X2 comes with a variety of driver assistance systems including lane-departure warning, speed-limit display and anti-dazzle high-beam assist, as well as collision warning and pedestrian warning systems with automatic braking. Adaptive cruise control is also available alongside a traffic-jam assistant that works at speeds of up to 37mph. It uses steering assistance to keep the car in the middle of its lane, with the driver needing to have at least one hand on the steering wheel for the system to work.
There will be just one engine available to order for now, a 2.0-litre diesel offering 190hp and 400Nm of torque enabling a 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds, while official headline figures of 61.4mpg combined and CO2 emissions starting from 121g/km should help keep running costs relatively low. Equipped with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard, the XDrive 20d comes equipped with a hill-descent function that enables the car to automatically maintain a desired speed on steep descents.
From March, a turbocharged front-wheel drive 190hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol version will be available and joining the line-up later in 2018 will be a three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol, as well as a lower-powered diesel in front and all-wheel drive guises. No electric or hybrid versions have been announced at this point.
BMW’s sixth SUV aims to appeal to a younger demographic and will be produced alongside the X1 at BMW’s facility in Germany. Prices start from £33,980 for the BMW X2 xDrive20d SE.