Munich/ Paris
. The BMW Group has chosen the Paris Motor Show 2016
to present the BMW Concept X2. This new addition to the compact
segment has a distinctive design that stands apart from that of the
other X models and also draws on the BMW Group’s history of
coupe-making. The result is a compact concept exuding urban sporting appeal.
“The BMW Concept X2 is a vehicle for active people looking for a
combination of enjoyment and practicality,” explains Adrian van
Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The concept
displays a new and exciting facet of the BMW brand within the compact segment.”
The design – a successful blend of dynamic appeal and solidity.
The design of the BMW Concept X2 fuses apparent contradictions
into a single coherent statement. “The BMW Concept X2 combines the
fast-moving body language and low-slung proportions of a coupe with
the robust construction of an X model. This is a sporty vehicle with a
bold character, and it allows us to open up some fascinating new
design possibilities for the BMW brand,” says Karim Habib, Head of BMW Design.
The distinctive character of the BMW Concept X2 already shines
through in the car’s proportions. While its large wheels and familiar
two-box design underline its functional X model character, a long
wheelbase, stretched roofline, short overhangs and heavily
forward-slanting C-pillar give the body a sporty, low-to-the-road
feel. The interplay of the darker cladding surfaces and striking
Luminous Red body colour make the Concept X2 look even slimmer from
the side.
Two facets to a singular character – the side view.
The upper section of the car’s flanks is dominated by sporty
design elements. The elongated roofline and slim window graphic create
a stretched feel. The glasshouse tapers towards the rear, forming an
athletic shoulder section. The window graphic surrounds and integrated
two-piece mirror bases (both made from brushed aluminium) add an extra
touch of class. The thickness of the aluminium profile plays a
contrasting role here. The window graphic is rounded off by a dynamic
interpretation of the hallmark BMW Hofmeister kink. Like the logo on
the C-pillar – a classically sporty coupe design cue straight out of
the BMW history books – this represents a singularly unmistakeable
detail. The large, air-channelling roof spoiler in body colour lies
flat over the blackened rear window. Extending from the C-pillars, it
gives the rear of the BMW Concept X2 its sporty contours.
Lower down the sides of the car, customary X-model features hog the
limelight. Muscular surfaces, large wheel arches and stylistic
underfloor protection around the door sills form an intriguing
contrast with the dynamic elements further up. Focusing for a moment
on more detailed features, the surfaces of the car’s flanks bring
together large, smoothly modelled sections with precise edges,
showcasing the car’s athletic presence. The dramatic surfacing also
emphasises the almost squared-off wheel arches familiar from the car’s
BMW X stablemates. In them sit large, 21-inch light-alloy wheels,
whose striking, double-spoke, bi-colour design with a strong sense of
three-dimensionality continues the contrast between dynamic appeal and
solidity into the car’s details. Tyres with chunky treads point to the
potential for fun off the beaten track, while door sills in body
colour with integral hexagonal elements set the seal on the robust
appearance of the car’s sides at their lowest point.
Dynamism and presence – the front end.
The front-end design of the BMW Concept X2 likewise fuses
dynamic elements with a robust use of forms. Clearly contoured volumes
and subtle edges create a front-end impression with presence and
sporting appeal in abundance. The heavily raked windscreen appears to
extend seamlessly into the dark panoramic roof and teams up with the
newly interpreted double kidney grille and large air intakes to give
the front end a slow-slung look. The kidneys are sited a little lower
than the headlights, and the central air intake is closer to the road
than the two outer intakes. This makes the centre of the car appear
lower, underlining the dynamic verve of the front-end design.
The kidneys turn the familiar trapezoidal shape of BMW grilles on its
head and instead widen from top to bottom. This clear statement
therefore accentuates the standalone nature of the BMW Concept X2, as
well as the width of the front and the car’s solid stance. Graphically
modelled and heavily angled bars within the kidney grille create an
undeniable “shark nose” effect, bringing additional depth and
sculptural richness to this area of the car.
The flat contours of the headlight tubes help to give the classical
BMW twin circular look a more hexagonal form. The laser light
technology used by the headlights enables very slim light graphics,
while the blue X in the centre of the hexagonal tubes adds a further
technical accent.
The front apron is dominated by the large central air intake below
the kidney grille, which helps to quench the Concept X2’s thirst for
cooling air. The smaller, triangular air intakes on either side
highlight the car’s broad stance. The robust, horizontal slats of the
air intakes provide a solid counterpoint to the dynamic design of the
front apron and add further detailed emphasis of the front-end’s
traditional X-model character.
A powerful statement – the rear end.
The rear of the BMW Concept X2 rounds off the exterior design in
distinctive style. Width-accentuating elements such as the slim rear
window and horizontal lines reduce the perceived height of the
BMW Concept X2 and underscore its sporting pretentions. From this
angle you can also see how the rear window emerges elegantly from
below the air-channelling spoiler and underlines the car’s sporting
character. The prominent tapering of the glasshouse along the sides of
the Concept X2 also catches the eye. It forms a powerful shoulder
area, allowing it to highlight the car’s broad, muscular stance. Below
the glasshouse, the sharply drawn rear lights radiate dynamic intent.
The fresh interpretation of the lights’ familiar “L” shape frames the
LED element as an illuminating three-dimensional sculpture that
projects from the rear to eye-catching effect.
Located between the rear lights is the BMW logo. Below, the almost
uninterrupted transition from tailgate to rear apron creates a
cohesive overall picture which spotlights the car’s crisp surface
language with particular clarity. The dark cladding below the rear
apron lifts the whole rear end visually, while at the same time giving
its upper section a slimmer look. The body-colour rear apron provides
a dynamic flourish to round off the lower reaches of the rear. A large
tailpipe at either outer extreme emphasises the car’s broad stance,
while the surrounding surfaces reference the three-way split and
overall form of the front air intakes.