Rendered Speculation: BMW X2 is X1's sporty sibling
by Damon Lavrinc on Sep 5th 2008 at 1:59PM 
We're less than a month away from the official unveiling of the BMW X1 concept in Paris, but the boys from Bavaria are already planning a sportier, two-door version of their new compact 'ute. Dubbed the X2, this coupe-ish soft-roader will be to the X1 what the X6 is to the X5.The 1-series-based X1 is currently carrying the codename "Sports Activity Wagon" (SAW), whereas the X2 is known internally as a "Sports Activity Runabout" (SAR). In keeping with BMW's new nomenclature and styling, the X2 will sport different bodywork, up-market materials, more standard equipment and a wider track to differentiate the two-door CUV from its four-door counterpart. Powertrains fitted with BMW's Efficient Dynamics system will be part of the package, beginning with 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines, eventually evolving into mild- and plug-in hybrid drivetrains.
While the X1 has already been green-lit for production, the X2 is still in limbo. But if it does come to market, expect the X2 to bow sometime in 2011 after the X1 launches in 2010.
[Source: CAR]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Flashpoint 2:04PM (9/05/2008)
You know why I love BMW?
BMW is a nexus. Anything it does, everybody else is gonna want to do.
Some of their styles are ridiculously radical and criticized, but their cars drive so well that the criticism goes away and all the other makers copy them.
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Corey L 2:10PM (9/05/2008)
Still can't outrun ugly.
Rai 2:31PM (9/05/2008)
and you thought going through numbers 0-9 was annoying, now they're invading the Xs
BigMcLargeHuge 2:35PM (9/05/2008)
Actually I think the VeriCross was an Isuzu invention.
homunculus 2:45PM (9/05/2008)
like what, the x6?
i remember when it was called the ssangyong actyon:
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/05/11/whatsnewcars/image/ssangyong-actyon04.jpg
jte 2:05PM (9/05/2008)
Enough with these X thingies, just concentrate on bringing over the entire 1-series with 4 cylinders to the USA. Silly BMW!
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s13hybrid 2:44PM (9/05/2008)
1 series hatch back please. :-)
Frank 3:07PM (9/05/2008)
ditto, some diesels would be nice too.
Alex 2:08PM (9/05/2008)
Ultimate Driving Machines my ass.
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sw 2:25PM (9/05/2008)
Ultimate overpriced machine.
aaron 2:10PM (9/05/2008)
Just when I was getting used to the X6, this comes along.
Assuming that since this is an X that will be assembled in the U.S., is this another move for BMW to counteract the weak U.S., like the decision to make M models out of the X5 and X6?
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aaron 2:18PM (9/05/2008)
I meant to say the weak U.S. dollar.
rsfourever 2:56PM (9/05/2008)
the "Weak" US dollar has been going on a massive tear in the last two months, reaching an 18 month high against the euro and a 24 month high against the GBP. The price is stabilising again after a few years of artificially being undervalued. the dollar will eventually (in my opinion) reach parity with the euro again at some point in the coming years... i don't think the factories being built in the US are for cause of the "weak" US dollar anymore - that was a one-year exceptional period
aaron 3:35PM (9/05/2008)
thank you for bringing that up, rsfourever. I know that the euro went down as much as 18% over a short period of time last week, I just thought their had to be some underlying reason why BMW is doing all of this.
John R 2:22PM (9/05/2008)
Wait...what the hell is BMW doing now?
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Justin 2:33PM (9/05/2008)
Better looking than a wagon? No
Better aerodynamics than a wagon? No
Better handling than a wagon? No
So how is this and the X6 more suited as an "Ultimate Driving Machine" than a 1, 3, or 5 series wagon?
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matt 2:35PM (9/05/2008)
I had a Z3 Coupe pass by me on the road yesterday and thought it was some ridiculous concept or one-off but then I looked it up. Lo and behold, this article pops up today and it looks like BMW is bringing it back with a lift kit and rebadging it as the X2!
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rsfourever 2:58PM (9/05/2008)
your avatar is the BMW logo with the M in front of it, and you didn't know what the Z3 coupe was? what the hell?
BigMcLargeHuge 4:22PM (9/05/2008)
I think what he's saying is, there was a wierd looking Z3 that turned out to be the X2 concept.
jgp 2:40PM (9/05/2008)
This breaks my brain.
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