Electric BMW iX2’s illuminated kidney grille is Christmas come early

It’s been rumoured and teased for quite some time, but finally, the BMW iX2 has been revealed with a polarising illuminated kidney grille and a starting price of £56,540.

Essentially a sleeker version of the BMW iX1, the new iX2 will initially arrive solely in dual-motor xDrive30 form, though a single motor eDrive20 car is likely to go on sale at a later date. In xDrive30 guise, the iX2 produces 309bhp and reaches 62mph in 5.6 seconds. Top speed stands at 112mph.

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Both motors are fed by a 64.8kWh battery pack – the same one found in the iX1 – which BMW says will return up to 279 miles on a charge. That’s a slight improvement over the iX1’s 272-mile range, no doubt due to the iX2’s slipperier shape. The single-motor BMW iX1 eDrive20 is capable of up to 293 miles according to the WLTP tests, so it’s possible a similarly-powered iX2 could cover over 300 miles before needing to be plugged in.

As standard, the BMW iX2 is capable of 130kW DC ultra rapid charging, which the maker claims will enable a 10-80% top up in 29 minutes. If you’re not close to a public charger but are running low on battery, the iX2’s MAX RANGE driving mode will limit the car’s power and top speed, with BMW reckoning this could increase total range by up to 25%.

As you can see, the BMW iX2 adopts a much more aggressive stance than the more conventional iX1, with the most notable feature being the angular and illuminated version of the maker’s iconic kidney grille. At the rear, the iX2 gets a small lip spoiler as well as a deep diffuser and slim, bevelled set of tail-lights.

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Inside, the iX2 features BMW’s now-trademark twin-screen infotainment layout, bringing together a 10.7-inch digital driver display and a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, both of which are housed behind a single piece of glass that curves around the driver. The iX2 will also debut BMW’s latest OS9 operating software, which includes configurable widgets and shortcut buttons, as well as slicker climate controls.

The iX2’s sloping roofline means it’s likely to offer less passenger space than the boxier iX1, although BMW has assured us that the iX2 is roomier than the older X2. Open the powered bootlid and you’ll find a 525-litre load space, which is larger than what you get in the Kia EV6 and Volvo C40.

As mentioned, prices for the BMW iX2 xDrive30 start at £56,540, and it’s available to order now. There’s only one trim to choose from (M Sport), with all cars boasting LED exterior lights, Veganza/Alcantara heated sport seats, dual-zone climate control and a reversing camera.