BMW X2 to launch at the 2016 Paris Motor Show

The BMW X2 SUV will launch at the upcoming 2016 Paris Motor Show in late September. The new addition to the X family – the X2 – will come to market next year and will be priced closer to the X3 than to the X1.

BMW’s X2 will be built on the X1 front-wheel drive platform and will follow the example of the larger X4 and X6 in receiving a uniquely styled steel body. It will feature a five-door layout, with its tailgate set at a more extreme angle than that of the more practical X1 to give it a coupe-like silhouette.

The X2 will separate itself from the X1 by having a higher rear belt line and smaller rear window as well as a more aggressively swept roofline. The interior is expected to be largely shared with the new X1.

BMW X2 is planned to be sold exclusively with three-cylinder and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, along with the choice of either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. They will be mated to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox in combination with front or four-wheel drive.

The X2 will be produced alongside the new X1 at BMW’s Regensburg factory in Germany.

BMW unveils transparent Mini concept car

German automobile major BMW unveiled its transparent concept car 'Mini Vision Next 100' in London on Thursday. The car's most notable feature is the option of changing the exterior colour or pattern anytime as per a user's desire. The electric car also features a steering wheel which can slide across between passengers.

2017 BMW 3 Series GT

German auto giant BMW updated the 3 Series sedan globally last year and the same was launched in our market at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo. 

It now comes with revised mechanicals and subtle cosmetic changes as well. The updated 3 series GT range will come with three new petrol engines and five new diesel engines internationally. The three new petrol engines’ power outputs will range from 187PS to 330PS whereas the refreshed diesel mills will produce from 152PS to 318PS, depending on the variant you choose. The same will be available with a RWD (rear-wheel ride setup) or BMW’s much famed xDrive all-wheel drive setup. However, we expect the Gran Turismo to be only launched with one diesel and one petrol variant in India.

The new BMW 3 Series GT will also be more efficient than the outgoing model. It will have features like auto start-stop, brake energy regeneration, on-demand operation of ancillary units and the eco pro mode which will help in improving the fuel economy and reducing emissions.

The cosmetic changes start from the updated front grille and the headlamps which come with adaptive LED tech. The front bumper has also been revised and the new GT will also get a new set of chunkier wheels which will most likely sport 17-inch rims. At the rear, the 3 GT will have refreshed taillamps which have been redesigned along with a new sportier rear bumper. On the inside, the 3 GT will come with added chrome accents along with the latest 5.0 version of the BMW iDrive infotainment system with navigation.

We can expect the new BMW 3 Series GT to be launched in India by the end of 2017 and it will be priced close to the 50 lakh rupee mark.

BMW to launch M2 Gran Coupé in 2019

BMW is to launch the M2 Gran Coupé and the 2-series Gran Coupé line-up in international markets by 2019.

As for the body style of the new BMW, until recently, senior BMW officials were undecided whether to follow a traditional four-door design as seen on the 4-series and 6-series Gran Coupés or to adopt a more radical five-door liftback proposal for the 2-series Gran Coupé. Insiders admit that the four-door option would be the best choice for structural rigidity. However, they have also confirmed that certain officials are holding out for a liftback format, suggesting it would provide the new BMW with greater practicality than its rivals.  

The wheelbase is set to be halfway between the 2,690mm span of the 2-series Coupé and the 2,810mm of the existing 3-series sedan, to accommodate two conventional front-hinged rear doors and sufficient rear-seat legroom. The 2-series Gran Coupé will also get a new interior that will be adopted by the successors to today’s 2-series Coupé and Cabriolet, which are due in international markets in 2020.

The M2 Gran Coupé will be powered by the same 370.06hp, 3.0-litre, turbocharged, in-line six-cylinder engine as the M2 Coupé. BMW will offer the car with either a standard six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

BMW is also reportedly planning a plug-in hybrid model of the 2-series Gran Coupé that will use its turbocharged 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine mated to an electric motor mounted within the forward section of a standard eight-speed automatic gearbox. This, in combination with a lithium-ion battery pack, is intended to provide the new 225e Gran Coupé with an electric range of up to 49.88km.