The X2 just got sportier. Like, a lot sportier
BMW’s compact Sport Activity Coupé, the X2 just got a bit meaner with a new engine option: M35i. Well, a lot meaner, compared to the rest the engine lineup.
The most powerful X2 you could’ve bought until now was the xDrive25d packing 231 hp (170 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft). The M35i, however, is for those who want to truly honor that C-pillar badge with a feisty, sporty, and, most importantly, gasoline-fed engine.
The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-banger found under the hood of X2 M35i churns out 306 hp (225 kW) with an ‘extremely powerful’ torque rating of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft). Thanks to the eight-speed Steptronic transmission blessed with a Launch Control feature, the X2 M35i can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) after just 4.9 seconds, partly due to its xDrive all-wheel drive system.
[NativeAd]For the M35i powertrain to be as efficient as possible, BMW made a few modifications to the X2: the cooling system was redesigned to ensure thermal stability. In addition, the drivetrain wears M Performance bits, like the M Sport suspension, or (optionally) an adaptive setup, with two manually adjustable modes. And, for the first time in an M-badged vehicle, there’s a locking differential on the front axle, reducing possible traction losses on the front wheels.
The 19-inch wheels (20 inchers are optional) now host beefier M Sport brakes, and, at the rear, the ‘distinctive M rear spoiler’ features a two-tailpipe M Sport exhaust that "produces a particularly sporty sound spectrum," says BMW. The M35i’s exterior wants to stand out not only by a sports-oriented design but also through the Cerium Grey color you see featured in the photo gallery above.
Inside, the X2 M35i cabin is cladded with M Sport Package bits, with the M Sport leather steering wheel being offered as standard here. The M Sport front seats, however, are optional, and come with a variety of choices: FabricTrigon/Alcantara combination in black with blue accents, Leather Dakota Magmared, perforated with black accents and Leather Dakota black perforated.
The feisty X2 M35i will enter production this November (for the US) and March 2019 (for the European market), respectively.
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