The BMW X6 arguably started the fad of a high-riding, four-door coupe, and look where we’ve come now. Mercedes-Benz cannot get enough of them, with both the GLC- and GLE-Class models spawning their own Coupe derivatives, while Honda also contributed to this odd-ball genre (and failed) with their Crosstour. BMW, the trend starters of this body style, fondly called the ‘Sports Activity Coupe’ by them, didn’t stop after the X6. Even the X3 crossover got its own Coupe derivative, known as the X4. Now, after a series of rumours, the third of its kind, and also the smallest, has been confirmed. It’ll be called the X2 and is expected to have its world premiere at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in September.
A couple of speculative renderings from Auto Bild imagine how the baby SAC will look like. And we must admit that it looks more like a high-riding hatchback than a coupe, if these computer generated images are to be believed. The BMW X2 will be based on the the UKL front-wheel drive platform sourced from sister brand MINI. This platform currently underpins the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, the BMW Compact Sedan Concept, and more familiarly, the all-new BMW X1.
According to the new report, the BMW X2 will be offered with three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with outputs ranging from 116 to 192 hp, along with bigger four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with outputs ranging from 150 to 245 hp. There’ll be no plug-in hybrid variant available on launch, while transmission choices should include 6-speed manual and 8-speed automatic. The X2 will have front-wheel drive will be standard, but the xDrive all-wheel drive system should be available higher up in the range. Prices will reportedly skewed towards the X3 rather than the X1, and an Indian launch is expected sometime in late-2017 or early-2018. In essence, this will be the true competitor to the Range Rover Evoque, rather than the more practical X3.
Source: AutoBild