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BMW Urban Cross: From a 2015 Rumour to the X2 and iX2
The BMW Urban Cross was the working name in a March 2015 press report for a small front-wheel-drive crossover, due in 2017 at about €25,000. Those plans produced the BMW X2. A concept appeared in Paris in 2016, and the production X2 went on sale in March 2018. A second X2, with an electric iX2, followed in October 2023.
Key takeaways
- March 2015: German press reported a four-metre "Urban Cross" for 2017 at about €25,000.
- May 2015: reports said BMW had approved the X2, on the front-wheel-drive UKL platform.
- The X2 (F39) was revealed on 25 October 2017 and sold from March 2018.
- The second X2 and the electric iX2 arrived in October 2023.
What the 2015 reports said
The story came from the German magazine auto motor und sport in March 2015, citing company sources. It described a four-metre crossover with a sloping, coupé-like roof. It would use the front-wheel-drive base of the 2 Series Active Tourer, with 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. An electric version was not planned, and the price would be around €25,000 in Europe.
Our report of 8 May 2015 repeated these points and added a 335-litre boot. Eleven days later, British reports said BMW had approved a coupé-styled crossover called the X2. It would sit between the BMW X1 and the X3 and use the UKL1 platform.
Urban Cross rumour against reality
| Point | 2015 report | Production X2 (F39) |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Urban Cross | X2 |
| Launch | 2017 | revealed October 2017, on sale March 2018 |
| Platform | Active Tourer front-wheel-drive base | UKL2, front- or all-wheel drive |
| Wheelbase | not given | 2,670 mm |
| Engines | three- and four-cylinder | 103 kW to 225 kW (M35i) |
| Electric drive | not planned | xDrive25e plug-in hybrid from 2020 |
| Price | about €25,000 | higher; it sat above the X1 |
The general idea was right: a front-wheel-drive BMW crossover with a coupé-like roof. The four-metre length and the low price were not.
Why BMW wanted a coupé-styled crossover
In 2015 the Range Rover Evoque and the Mercedes-Benz GLA showed that buyers would pay more for a small premium crossover with style. BMW already had the larger X4 and X6 as coupé-styled versions of the X3 and X5. The X2 brought that formula to the front-wheel-drive family of the X1 and the 2 Series Active Tourer.
The concept shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2016 previewed the shape closely. BMW built the production car at Regensburg in Germany.
X2 timeline to 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2015 | "Urban Cross" report |
| May 2015 | X2 reported as approved for production |
| October 2016 | BMW Concept X2 at the Paris Motor Show |
| 25 October 2017 | Production X2 (F39) revealed |
| March 2018 | Sales begin; the range runs from the 103 kW sDrive18i to the 225 kW M35i |
| January 2020 | xDrive25e plug-in hybrid unveiled |
| 11 October 2023 | F39 production ends; second-generation X2 (U10) and electric iX2 revealed |
The iX2 eDrive20 has 150 kW and a 66.5 kWh battery, and the xDrive30 has 230 kW, about 53 % more by our calculation. The petrol M35i gives 221 kW (300 PS) in Europe.
The X2 in 2026: what to choose
In October 2026 the second-generation X2 and the iX2 remain on sale, although the 2015 report had ruled out an electric version.
A used F39 X2 suits buyers who want a compact BMW with front-wheel-drive packaging and more style than the X1. The M35i is the driver's choice. City drivers with home charging should look at the iX2. Our article on the first BMW X2 covers the F39. Check exterior sizes against rivals with the size comparison tool, set it against other models in the comparison tool, or see the BMW catalogue.
FAQ
What was the BMW Urban Cross?
It was the working name used in a March 2015 German press report for a planned small BMW crossover. It described a four-metre, front-wheel-drive car due in 2017 for about €25,000.
Did BMW build the Urban Cross?
Not under that name. The plans led to the BMW X2, previewed by a concept in 2016 and sold from March 2018. It was bigger and more expensive than the 2015 report suggested.
What platform does the BMW X2 use?
The first X2 (F39) used BMW's UKL2 front-wheel-drive platform, shared with the X1 of that time. All-wheel drive was available on stronger versions such as the M35i.
Is there an electric BMW X2?
Yes. The BMW iX2, revealed in October 2023 with the second-generation X2, is fully electric. The eDrive20 has 150 kW and a 66.5 kWh battery.
