cars news 10: BMW X2 Poised for Paris Auto Show Reveal, Says Report

Come on, you didn’t really think BMW was just going to leave the X1 alone, right? The long-rumored, inevitable BMW X2 crossover will appear at the Paris Auto Show, according to Autocar. Alongside this sporty-ish variant of the X1 will be the debut of the Mini Countryman with which it shares BMW’s UKL front-wheel-drive platform.

Autocar says that the BMW X2 will be shown publicly for the first time in slightly dressed-up concept form, ahead of the production version going on sale “late next year.” In this U.S. it is most likely to be billed as a 2018 model-year vehicle.

BMW X2 Prototype Rear Three Quarter Shot

Going on the spy shots we’ve seen of BMW X2 prototypes out testing, don’t expect much in the way of surprises here. As the X4 is to the X3 and the X6 is to the X5, the BMW X2 is little more than a sleeker-looking version of the entry-level family crossover we currently have. The usual combination of a sharper roofline, more aggressively sloped rear window, and reduced cargo capacity are the keys to making this sausage. Really, it’s a lifted wagon that wants to trick you into thinking it’s an SUV.

Under the hood the BMW X2 will undoubtedly employ the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, good for 228 hp and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive should be standard as it is on the X1 xDrive 28i, although sticker price will ring it at a few grand north of that model’s $35,795 price.