The BMW showcar was not one of the most appealing concepts. However, it served as an early indicator of the future coupe-ified SUV niche.
Name:BMW X-Coupe
First appearance:2001 North American International Auto Show, Detroit
Specifications:Based upon the X5, aluminum body and six-cylinder turbodiesel engines with 184 horsepower (450 Newton-meters of torque) and 332 poundfeet (332 psi) each, 20-inch wheelsWhy It Matters Now:
We thought it appropriate to look back at the original concept of the BMW X2 coupe-SUV. This was the one that indicated BMW’s intention to make SUVs with swoopy rooflines.
The unusual showcar was described as “a coupe and anX in one vehicle” back in its day. It attempted to blur the lines between an SUV, coupe, and convertible. It began life as an E53-generation X5 and was then redesigned with aluminum panels. The rear doors were also removed.
The X-Coupe was completely different from the X4, X6 and X5 today. The consensus is that while beauty can be subjective, it won’t be remembered as one of the most visually appealing BMWs.
The X-Coupe, 17 years later is still a striking exterior. It combined the SUV’s generous ground clearance with the coupe-like roofline. The massive, asymmetrical, clamshell-type hatch allowed easy access from the passenger’s side to the trunk.
Although its underpinnings were taken from the X5, it is possible to say that the styling was more similar to the Z4 roadster of the same name launched two years later. The interior was much more straightforward than the 2+2 layout. BMW labelled it as a 1+3 layout.
The X-Coupe’s engine was a 3.0-liter diesel engine taken from the Euro-spec 530d. It was a modified production engine by BMW that generated more torque to suit the heavier body. The stubby concept, which was ridden on 20-inch alloys with a 111-inch wheelbase like the X5, was slightly longer than a 3 Series Coupe and had a top speed at 125 mph (201 kph).
BMW revived the idea of combining an SUV and a coupe in an automobile blender with the Concept X6 in 2007. It went on to become the first-gen X6 shortly afterward.