The CarBuzz spy photography team has already spotted the Neue Klasse BMW X1 testing on the road as the German automaker gets ready to bring it to market. Where there’s one, there are two, and the X1’s more stylish sibling, the X2, has now also been spotted. And the newest version of this little BMW crossover coupe is putting more of an emphasis on coupe than ever before.
Neue X2 Doesn’t Rhyme, But It Should
BMW X2 Facelift spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
Luxury SUVs are popular, and their sleeker crossover-coupe counterparts are an almost equally popular way to use a slightly different roofline to command a significantly higher price from buyers. It’s why there are so many on the market, and why the second generation X2 is about to get a refresh.
Base Trim Engine
2L I4 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
7-speed auto-shift manual
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
241 HP @4500 RPM
Base Trim Torque
295 lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
24/33/28 MPG
Infotainment & Features
9 /10
The first BMW X2 looked more like a tall hot hatch, while the second had much flatter rear glass. It appears that BMW is going even further down that route with the facelifted version of the SUV that went on sale in 2024.
Since this is a facelift, it’s unlikely that the hatch is actually at a flatter angle than the model it will replace. The look of the rear ducktail is probably playing a part in the illusion, along with the heavy application of camouflage wrapping.
!!!MODEL TAG!!! Listing Carousel 2026 BMW X2
/cars/bmw/x2/2026/
The updated X2 is showing off a Neue Klasse nose, the new look that debuted with the iX3. It shows that BMW is being inconsistent with its application of the new face, which features smaller kidney grilles and a wide headlight panel. Some models, like this one, seem to be getting the nose as part of their midlife improvements, while others, including the 5 Series and 7 Series, are not.
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One consistent decision is that the refreshed models will get BMW’s latest infotainment system. Panoramic iDrive replaces a large center screen and dash with a smaller central display and a series of displays projected along the base of the windshield. The customizable displays are positioned higher, within the driver’s field of vision, which is intended to help keep eyes on the road. It also features BMW’s latest voice command integration to reduce reliance on physical buttons.
Facelift Is Part Of A Major Product Revamp
BMW X2 Facelift spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
Four big tailpipes at the rear make it clear this will be the M35i version instead of the standard or electric iX2. M-style side mirrors also work to make that clear.
The current X2 M35i makes 312 horsepower from its 2.0-liter engine in the US, though just 296 hp in Europe. The xDrive28i base model gets 241 hp from a version of the same engine. Rumors suggest this facelift could come with some more horsepower, but this is currently the beefiest version of this engine.
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Expect BMW to reveal the X1 first, with the X2 arriving at least a few months later. BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said in March that the company plans to launch 40 different models by 2027, which means that no matter how you classify a “model,” BMW will need to start introducing a lot of vehicles very soon.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
BMW X2 Facelift spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
The X2 is a sign that BMW still hasn’t decided what it is doing with the Neue Klasse design. Originally, the new face was meant to be specific to EVs, though that changed as EV transition plans were rolled back. Then it was going to go on everything, before a revised 7 Series appeared and spy photos of the 5 Series showed a change of direction from Neue back to the old look for that model’s refresh. Whatever the look, BMW still considers this segment important, even after it discontinued the larger but similar X4.
