Almost one month after the new generation BMW X2 premiered online, the premium subcompact crossover coupe has entered production alongside its electric derivative, the iX2.
It comes to life at the Regensburg factory in Germany, which is also where the X1 and the 1 Series are being made, as all of them share the same front-biased construction. Between them, up to 1,000 vehicles roll off the line at the facility each working day.
To celebrate the milestone, the Munich auto marque has released a generous image gallery of the all-new BMW X2 and the iX2 during assembly. And while neither of them is particularly good to look at, they're far more interesting in low-light conditions.
Featuring a coupe body style in a premiere, which makes it look like a smaller (and uglier) X6, the 2024 BMW X2 is nothing more than an X1 dressed in brash attire. It has a larger footprint compared to its predecessor that looks more like the 1 Series hatch than a crossover coupe, and borrows heavily from its more mainstream sibling, the latest X1, in the cabin.
Photo: BMW
The first copies of the new X2 should reach dealers in Europe shortly, and we will have to wait for next year to see them in showrooms stateside. BMW has announced that the first examples will arrive on our shores in March straight from the Regensburg facility. And if you were hoping for the iX2 to apply for a US visa, don't, because the all-quiet variant will be kept away from our market.
US shoppers will have to limit their choice to the xDrive28i and the M35i xDrive versions. The former uses a 2.0-liter four-pot that kicks out 241 hp (245 ps/180 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque, transmitting the power to all four wheels through a seven-speed DCT. The latter brings more juice to the party, enjoying 312 hp (316 ps/233 kW) and identical thrust to the lesser model.
According to BMW, the range-topping X2 needs 5.2 seconds from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph), topping out at 155 mph (250 kph), whereas the entry-level is one second slower and has a 149 mph (240 kph) top speed. Both models feature the brand's xDrive front-biased all-wheel drive system, at least in our market.
The new X2 xDrive28i has an MSRP of $42,000, and the X2 M35i xDrive starts at $51,400. Just for reference, we will remind you that the more practical X1 can be had from $39,100 in the xDrive28i flavor and from $49,900 when it comes to the M35i version. The latest X1 and X2 are the same car beneath the skin and sit miles apart from each other when it comes to the exterior design.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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