Paris Motor Show: BMW Concept X2 previews new crossover coupe

BMW unveils Concept X2 at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, giving a sneak-peek at the company's third 'Sports Activity Coupe', the X2.

It’s quite obvious that BMW has a knack for creating coupes out of its SUVs. It started this whole concept of Sports Activity Coupe with the X6 (based on the X5) back in 2008 while it recently also added the X3-based X4 coupe to the line-up. Now, at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, BMW unveiled another model that will be made on the same lines. Called the Concept X2, the show car previews the coupe derivative of the X1 crossover, and is confirmed to enter production in 2018.

Compared to the X4 or X6, the first thing that you notice about the X2 is that it doesn’t have a fastback rear-end design like the other two. Instead, it sports a steeply raked roofline that smoothly merges to the stubby rear. Elsewhere, though, it has the same sporty demeanour like other BMWs. Up front, it flaunts a massive kidney grille, sleek LED headlamps and a muscular bumper with extra-large air intakes. Around the side, you get a hint of X1 in its profile, but it window line tapers before joining the C-pillar, imparting an edgier look.

The concept comes with massive 21-inch wheels and flared arches while at the back it gets unique tail-lamps and a huge silver skid plate with two exhaust openings on each side. BMW’s design head, Adrian van Hooydonk, describes it as a car that – "combines the fast-moving body language and low-slung proportions of a coupe with the robust construction of an X model". Of course, in the production guise, the styling of the Concept X2 will be toned down by a fair bit.

Since the X2 will be based around the X1, it will be underpinned by BMW’s UKL2 platform – meaning drivetrain options will include front- and all-wheel drive system. There’s no news on its powertrains as yet, but expect it to use the same set of 2.0-litre turbo petrol and diesel engines of the X1.

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