A few weeks ago, we got one of our earliest looks at the upcoming BMW X2 facelift. But those SUVs were on a trailer, and it wasn’t exactly easy to see the details or get a sense of presence. Now the prototypes are on the road in Spain, and the CarBuzz spies have snapped them getting put through their paces in hot weather as BMW gets the facelifted models ready for launch.
Neue Face, High-Tech Cabin
BMW X2 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
The new X2 is starting to look like it will be more than just a simple facelift. That’s because instead of the normal bumper and cabin tweaks, this X2 has an all-new nose. It is the Neue Klasse face, first launched on the iX3, though this is clearly not an electric car.
BMW’s new face has vastly different headlights and a take on the kidney grille that looks more like its cars from the 1970s and 1980s than the massive gaping maws of its more recent machinery. The German brand has been inconsistent with the new look on facelift models, with some getting it and others, like the upcoming M5 and the just-launched new 7 Series facelift not.
The changes at the back are much smaller. It has new taillights, again the Neue Klasse design we’ve seen on other recent BMWs. There seems to be some reshaping around the exhaust tips, though it’s mostly hiding under the camouflage wrap.
We can see into the cabin in these images, and the latest Panoramic iDrive is clearly on display. It uses a series of displayed images along the lower edge of the windshield instead of a traditional dashboard. It’s highly configurable, and meant to help you keep your eyes on the road.
New X2 Might Discover What, Exactly, Is In A Name
BMW X2 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
The X2 in the photos is the M-series version of the X2. Not a full M model like an M3, but the replacement for what was called the X2 M35i. The CarBuzz spies report that this will be called an X2 M40i, which strongly suggests extra power, but is also going to make BMW’s lineup very confusing.
The current-spec X2 M35i makes 312 horsepower from a 2.0-liter turbo-four. It’s currently the most powerful version of the B48 four-cylinder engine. If BMW is bumping it to be called M40i, then it needs to have more power.
BMW will have to introduce a new version with more power to give it a new name, and that risks confusion with other models. M40i currently refers to cars and SUVs with the B58 3.0-liter turbocharged I6. That engine won’t fit in the transverse-mount engine bay of the X2, which could lead to M40i vehicles with four and six-cylinder power.
It’s not an ideal situation for the marketing team or dealers. So the name change may be a bit premature. The rest of the updates, as you can see, are not.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
BMW X2 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
The X2, like most crossover coupes, is a fashion statement. BMW needs to keep it looking fresh, and this helps do that. It keeps the SUV from looking dated, and also delivers the company’s latest tech. The X2 isn’t a huge seller, but this shows that BMW is willing to invest and keep it going.
