Report: BMW X2 Will Get Front-Drive Variant

BMW will be adding a front-drive variant to the X2 lineup later in the year, according to a recent report from Automotive News. The new variant will arrive in a few months and should make the new crossover more accessible thanks to a lower starting price. John Kelly, product manager at BMW of North America, said that the less expensive X2 will go on sale in the spring and should be around $2,000 less than its all-wheel-drive-equipped sibling. Currently, the 2018 BMW X2 starts at $39,395 including destination.

Like its sister vehicle, the more practical X1, the X2 was launched with all-wheel drive as standard. This time around, BMW is launching the front-drive model of the X2 sooner than it did when the second-generation X1 arrived. That model gained a front-drive variant a year after it was launched.

Unlike the X1, the X2 is being positioned as a sportier model. The company told Automotive News that it expects it to be a profitable model for the brand and bring in conquests from other automakers. However, BMW didn’t reveal its sales projections for the X2. Bernhard Kuhnt, CEO of BMW of North America, is expecting the majority of X2 sales to be conquests after a positive reception from vehicles and customer focus groups. Kelly told Automotive News that the advertising campaign for the X2 will be mainly web-based, with particular emphasis on social media.

Compared to the X1, the X2 is lower and shorter and features a unique front fascia with an upside down twin kidney grille. Other design cues exclusive to the X2 include the BMW badge on the car’s C-pillars. Under the hood, both cars use the same 228-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

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