Petrol-electric xDrive25e variant arrives ahead of X2 facelift to rival the Mercedes GLA 250e
Petrol-electric xDrive25e variant arrives ahead of X2 facelift to rival the Mercedes GLA 250e
BMW has extended its X2 line-up with a four-wheel-drive xDrive25e plug-in hybrid model just four months before the sporting crossover is due to receive a mid-life facelift.
The X2 xDrive25e will rival the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA 250e when it goes on sale here in July and adopts what BMW describes as a fourth-generation petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The same system is used by the X1 xDrive25e and 225xe Active Tourer. It employs a transversely mounted turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing 92kW and 220Nm of torque together with an electric motor located within the rear axle and developing 70kW and 165kW.
The two power sources provide the X2 xDrive25e with a combined system output of 162kW and 385Nm of torque. Drive from the petrol engine is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox, while the electric motor channels its energy to the rear wheels via a fixed-ratio gearbox.
BMW claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.8sec and a top speed in Hybrid mode of 195km/h. In combination with a 10kWh lithium ion battery mounted in the boot floor, BMW’s petrol-electric powertrain provides the X2 xDrive25e with an electric-only range of up to 53 kilometres on the WLTP test cycle.
The model’s combined fuel consumption is 70.65L/100km overall and it achieves 6.6 kilometres per kWh in electric-only running. The WLTP-certified CO2 emissions are 38g/km. The model’s top speed in electric-only mode is put at 135km/h.
The new X2 model can be told apart from its petrol and diesel siblings by a redesigned front bumper. It forgoes the round foglights featured on other X2 models in favour of units integrated into the main headlight assembly – an arrangement that is expected to be reflected in the facelifted X2 that’s due out in September.
Inside, there are new readouts within the Infotainment system that provide details of energy flow, current and range. Model-specific equipment for the X2 xDrive25e includes an acoustic pedestrian warning system, uniquely styled 17in alloy wheels and dual-zone air conditioning that can be controlled remotely via a smartphone.
Greg Kable