New BMW X2 - price, release date and M35i details
BMW's new X2 available to order from £39,365, with a choice of battery-electric and petrol motors including 296bhp M35i
BMW first broke the mould with coupe-style SUVs with the X6 back in 2008, and it’s a format that’s proved incredibly popular since – so much so that the firm is applying the same recipe to its next-generation X2. On sale now from £39,365, the Audi Q3-rivalling crossover arrives with a raft of tech upgrades and the option of pure-electric drive, a mild-hybrid petrol engine and a flagship M35i version with 296bhp.
As well as the new look, the second-generation X2 is larger in every dimension compared with its predecessor, measuring 4554mm long, 2692mm tall and 1590mm wide, with wider tracks and bigger 19-inch wheels to boot. Optional illuminated kidney grilles round off the bold redesign, with aero-driven elements like flush-fitting door handles and grille blanking plates helping boost efficiency for the electric iX2. These details bring the iX2’s drag coefficient down to 0.25, with petrol models achieving 0.27.
The new X2 shares its front-wheel drive UKL2 architecture with the previous model, albeit with revisions to its suspension tuning and kinematics. Certain suspension components are stiffer and lighter than before to improve turn in and response, with new frequency-selective dampers coming as part of the standard Adaptive M suspension package, which also brings a 15mm ride height drop.
The ICE range comprises two models – the sDrive20i and the M35i, with the latter gaining an M-tuned powertrain with four-wheel drive. The base model uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder motor assisted by mild-hybrid tech, generating 168bhp and 207lb ft of torque.
The X2 M35i costs significantly more than the sDrive20i at £47,395, but it packs a much more potent 2-litre turbocharged B48 four-cylinder engine with 296bhp and 295lb ft. Strangely, that’s 10bhp fewer than the outgoing X2 M35i, and the resulting 5.4sec 0-62mph time is half a second slower. Both petrol engines are mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, with the M35i featuring a limited-slip differential and a variable front-to-rear torque split.
The pure-electric iX2 is the most expensive of all at £56,540, and comes equipped with a pair of BMW’s fifth generation eDrive motors – one on each axle – for a combined 309bhp and 364lb ft. Reaching 62mph from rest in 5.6sec, the iX2 outguns the equivalent Mercedes EQA 350 while offering a similar 266-mile range.
The iX2’s 64.8kWh battery pack is mounted beneath the floor and can be topped up from 10-80 per cent in 29 minutes, thanks to 130kW charging capability. The iX2 also features additional bracing across what would normally be the engine bay to improve structural stiffness.
Inside, the X2’s larger footprint offers more cabin space than before, and BMW’s latest iDrive 9 infotainment software replaces the ageing iDrive 6 system in the outgoing model. A 10.25-inch digital dial pack and a 10.7-inch central screen sit beneath a single sheet of curved glass, with iDrive 9 offering simplified menus and quick access functions for easier operation while driving.
Having said that, the X2 does away with the traditional rotary controller that makes iDrive one of the most intuitive systems on the market, opting instead for a touch-based interface. Cloud-based navigation, an onboard app store and a smartphone-controlled gaming system are among the tech highlights, with a front collision warning system and cyclist detection among the standard suite of driving assists.
The new X2 is on sale now in the UK, with first deliveries scheduled for March next year.
