MOTORS: The X Factor

MOTORS: The X Factor

Mondeo Man is dead. The practicality and style of the SUV killed off the traditional saloon years ago and it looks like our love for a high driving position and allusions to a sporty, active lifestyle is killing off the coupe and hatchback market as more and more manufacturers raise their ride height, widen their track and bolt on a shiny undertray to these urban offroaders. The latest of the crop is the BMW X2 which is said to break new ground for BMW thanks to it’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system that is designed to deliver the ideal balance between sporting dynamics and efficiency.

BMW are old masters at the urban offroader. Next to its bigger brothers, the BMW X4 and X6, the BMW X2 makes a distinctive impression thanks to its exterior design that combines the low-slung proportions of a coupé with the robust core of an offroader.

The BMW X2 is two centimetres shorter and more than seven centimetres lower than the BMW X1, yet has the same wheelbase. Featuring short overhangs, it also has a stretched, coupé-style roofline and slim window graphic.

The kidney grille has always been an identifying feature of a BMW. On the X2, however, its outline is wider at its base than at its top. The X2 is the first modern BMW to feature this design cue, and it gives the new car a broader, more distinctive and sportier appearance. Below the grille, the hexagonal surface treatment in the bumper further reinforces this impression.

Full-LED headlights as standard on Sport, M Sport and M Sport X models. The bi-LED light for low beam and high beam is highly effective at illuminating the road, while also accentuating the BMW X2’s sporty character. The M Sport and M Sport X models are available with wheels in sizes up to 20-inch, side skirts contribute to its rugged good looks and protective body cladding, black on the SE and Sport models and Frozen Grey on the M Sport X, are a chunky, purposeful addition.

At the rear, a spoiler provides a flourish to round off the BMW X2’s roofline and contributes to the BMW X2’s drag co-efficient of just 0.28. M Sport models feature a diffuser-look cladding inlay in Dark Shadow metallic whilst M Sport X models get a bespoke diffuser insert in the contrast colour Frozen Grey.

Inside the class quality of the BMW X2 and its levels of equipment, even in the SE model, are both instantly apparent. The instrument panel has contrast stitching as standard, while the centre console features materials including Sensatec also with contrast stitching.

Eye-catching highlights can be added by opting for the new perforated Dakota leather in Magma Red or the Micro Hexagon fabric Anthracite/Alcantara combination upholstery with yellow contrast stitching. It’s practical too with the boot having a capacity of 470 litres, meaning it can handle leisure activities, from shopping sprees to a skiing weekend or mountain-bike tour. Large storage pockets in the doors add to interior useability.

The cabin is driver-focused, with the design of features such as the instrument panel binnacle directed at the road ahead. All controls are positioned to allow the driver to assimilate their information with a single glance and operate them with ease. All functional controls in the centre console are set in high-gloss black as standard, giving the interior a touch of sophisticated elegance (excluding SE).

An optional lighting package within the Plus pack allows drivers to set a stylish lighting mood for the interior by choosing from Orange, Lilac, Mint, Bronze, Blue and White lighting. The LED lighting in the trim surfaces of the instrument panel and door panels forms a continuous band that extends all the way around the cabin to the rear. One of the most distinctive options on the list is the panoramic roof, which adds to the sense of spaciousness inside the BMW X2. The front section of the panoramic roof tilts and slides open, just like a conventional sunroof.

The new X2 offers its driver three different ways of interacting with their car, as the sixth generation of the iDrive control concept now supplements the familiar iDrive Controller and optional voice control (within Tech pack) with touchscreen operation as standard for the Control Display . The touchscreen can also be used comfortably by the front passenger.

Standard specification for every BMW X2 includes a 6.5-inch Touch Control Display with navigation system. The display concept is designed to provide the driver with a quick summary of the most important information at any particular time by means of, for example, the live tiles that appear in the display’s main menu. Its operation emulates the intuitive touch control principles familiar from smartphones.

For even greater safety and convenience in the BMW X2, there is the option of the full-colour BMW Head-Up Display, also featured within the Technology Pack, projects all important driving information and navigation/assistance system readouts onto the windscreen and therefore into the driver’s field of view – in high resolution.

On the road the TwinPower Turbo engines within the BMW X2 range team with the car’s refined chassis to endow it with the handling qualities and exceptional agility you expect from a BMW.

The car’s driving responses can be adapted by using the Driving Experience Control switch, allowing the driver to choose between default COMFORT mode, efficiency-enhancing ECO PRO mode and SPORT mode. The pre-programmed set-up available via SPORT mode gives the car even more dynamic steering and powertrain responses.

If the optional Dynamic Damper Control is specified, the car’s suspension can be adjusted even more precisely to individual requirements. Drivers can choose between two settings – COMFORT or SPORT – using the Driving Experience Control switch. The result is sporty suspension offering solid road holding and reassuring comfort over any surface.

The M Sport suspension fitted as standard on the BMW X2 M Sport and M Sport X is a particularly good match for these two models and includes tauter spring and damper tuning. BMW X2 M Sport and M Sport X models offer suspension which is 10mm lower than the standard suspension.

Not only does the BMW X2 offer drivers a wide selection of driver assistance systems, it also comes with highly advanced technologies.

The camera-based assistance systems available for the new BMW X2 help to deliver assurance and safety in different driving situations. The optional Driving Assistant (within Drive Pack) includes Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info with No Passing Info display, anti-dazzle High Beam Assistant, as well as Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function. In addition to these functions and as an upgrade to the Driver Pack, the Driving Assistant Plus also features the Active Cruise Control system with Stop & Go function – which maintains both a desired speed between 19 and 87mph entered by the driver and the safety distance to vehicles travelling ahead – and the Traffic Jam Assistant. At speeds up to 37mph, this function takes over both proximity control and lane-keeping tasks from the driver. The Traffic Jam Assistant uses steering assistance to keep the car reliably in the middle of its lane, but the driver needs to have at least one hand on the steering wheel for the system to work.

At launch, the X2 xDrive20d diesel variant will be available. It generates maximum output of 190hp and 400Nm of torque enabling a zero to 62mph time of 7.7 seconds. Official fuel consumption is still highly impressive 61.4mpg*, while CO2 emissions are as low as 121g/km*.

The BMW X2 is on sale now with prices starting from £33,980 OTR for a BMW X2 xDrive20d SE.
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