Is there any end to the ingenuity of car makers when coming up with new descriptive styles? Probably not. We’ve had MPV and SUV; now we have SAC: The sports activity coupé. In this case, the brand new BMW X2 SAC to be precise and there’s also an iX2 variant as well. Anyway, moving on, this latest offering is stylish and bang up to date and is a worthy addition to the range of prestige BMW cars currently on offer. Let’s dig deeper:
On The Outside
The distinctive, sporty appearance of the new BMW X2 demonstrates that the car has grown considerably in size over its predecessor; to be precise, by 194mm in length. The wheelbase is longer and the vehicle also has wider tracks at both the front and rear, together with larger-diameter wheels, resulting in a broader, more muscular stance on the road. A trailer tow hitch can be ordered as an option, operated electrically at the touch of a button.
With all the seats in use, the X2 can accommodate 560 litres of cargo and the load compartment’s capacity can be expanded to 1,470 litres with the rear seats down. The mild hybrid BMW X2 sDrive20i has a boot capacity of 515 litres (1,400L) while the fully electric BMW iX2 offers between 525 and also 1,400 litres.
Front and centre is the new interpretation of two signature brand features: the BMW kidney grille and twin headlight configuration. T The optional illuminated BMW kidney grille (‘Iconic Glow’) gives the car a particularly distinctive appearance. The model-specific air inlet grille with sporty honeycomb structure is finished in Black high-gloss. The inner section of the enclosed BMW kidney grille on the BMW iX2 has an intricate structure and silver surfaces.
The headlight units extend well into the wheel arches. The X2 comes as standard with LED headlights for low and high beam. Two vertical LED units with a subtle arrow shape include the daytime driving lights and turn signal indicators. Adaptive LED Headlights with non-dazzling matrix high beam, plus urban lights, motorway beam pattern and bad weather light are available as part of the Technology Pack. Meanwhile, M-designated lights (‘Shadowline’) are available with the M Sport Pro Package.
The upright front end, the typically BMW long bonnet, the heavily raked A-pillars and the roofline flowing dynamically into the rear feed into the typical coupé silhouette. Large wheels and a wraparound black border at the lowest edge of the body are subtle pointers to the car’s robust styling. As ever, there is a wide choice of paint, alloy wheels and sundry accessories.
On The Inside
Inside, the BMW X2 houses five full-size seats, with all occupants benefiting from increased shoulder and elbow room front and back. Key features include a slender instrument panel, which serves as a stage for the BMW Curved Display and a “floating” armrest with integral control panel between the driver and front passenger seats.
The BMW Curved Display, with its frameless glass surface angled slightly towards the driver, brings a classy, premium highlight to the cabin. It is framed by solid-looking trim pieces which extend out to the doors as a border for the cockpit area. Alongside the newly designed gear selector lever, the control panel integrated into the centre console houses embedded buttons for using vehicle functions, including My Modes and Park Assist. Newly developed seats offer even better comfort and lateral support offering sporty looks, outstanding lateral support and optimised comfort over long distances and extended functionality.
The M Sport specification includes Veganza/Alcantara heated sport seats in anthracite with blue contrast stitching or, as an option, Vernasca leather with special diamond quilting. Electric adjustment for seats is available, once again as an option. A two-zone automatic climate control system is fitted as standard, as is the rain sensor with automatic headlight activation. This intelligent system takes into account the impact of direct sunlight and, depending on the car’s specification, can also incorporate the seat and steering wheel heating. The automatic climate control system in the all-electric BMW iX2 employs extremely efficient heat pump technology. This model also comes as standard with an auxiliary climate control system to heat or cool the interior before a journey. A glass sunroof is another option to add onto the list.
The standard BMW Live ‘Cockpit Plus’ includes the cloud-based navigation system, BMW Maps and an audio system with six speakers and amplifier output of 100 watts. The optional Harman Kardon Sound System raises the number of speakers to 12 and the amplifier output to 205 watts. Inevitably, there’s smartphone integration via both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Face it: You can no longer go for a drive to get away from it all; there’s no escaping the modern world.
On The Road
A three-cylinder petrol unit powers the BMW X2 sDrive20i version, among the new features serving to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions. Further, teaming up with a 48V mild hybrid system, the 1.5 litre engine in the X2 sDrive20i generates maximum output of 170bhp and peak torque of 280Nm. The most potent incarnation of the four-cylinder petrol unit from the latest generation of engines serves as the power source for the BMW X2 M35i xDrive.
There’s an update to the charging potential on the electric version and BMW say that the iX2 is capable of charging at full speed more consistently than its previous electric vehicles, thanks to revised software while a smoother drop-off curve as the battery approaches full, as opposed to the previous ‘stepped’ system, means full charging speed is possible even from 50%.
Deliveries of this new car will begin in March of 2024 and we can expect the usual quality of handling and performance expected from this German brand. In the meantime, please remember that MHH International export BMW cars VAT-free from the UK to destinations as far flung as New Zealand, Ireland, Kenya and the Caribbean. Get in touch via this website to find out more.
