The most affordable BMW saloon in Malaysia – the 2 Series Gran Coupé

In Malaysia, if you are yearning for a taste of Bavarian luxury and performance of driving a BMW car, now you have alternative option besides BMW 3 series. The brand new 2 Series Gran Coupé is an most affordable CKD model as now officially in local showroom.

That car is being closely followed by the four-door coupé, the 2 Series Gran Coupé, since the name is long, we name it as 2GC in short. BMW Malaysia calls its the first locally-assembled four-door coupé here in the Malaysia. The 2GC is still largely a saloon, albeit one equipped with coupé staples like a low-slung roofline and frameless windows.

At the present time, the 2GC is only available here in 218i M Sport format. This means you’ll find a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo under its hood mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the front wheels. As with the case with the FWD F40 1 Series, BMW insists that the brand’s hallmark handling is preserved using ARB technology. This is a form of “near-actuator wheel slip limitation” which minimises understeer commonly associated with front-driven vehicles while allowing quick and sensitive driver inputs.

Output figures for the B38 mill read 140bhp and 220Nm respectively, with the vital stats on the straights being 8.7 seconds (to 100kph) and 213kph (vmax). Truth be told, the 218i Gran Coupé M Sport impresses more on the efficiency front, with average economy rated at 5.9l/100km and CO2 emissions kept at a lowly 135g/km. Then again, its M Sport suspension and 18-inch M light alloy wheels will likely keep things engaging around the bends, even if the Malaysian-spec 2GC is somewhat lacking in brute force.

The 2GC is powered by the B38 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine. In its latest configuration, it makes 140 PS from 4,600 to 6,500 rpm and 220 Nm of torque between 1,480 and 4,200 rpm, sent to the front wheels through a Getrag seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.

The 218i Gran Coupé M Sport will retail for RM211,367 on the road without insurance for as long as the 2020 sales tax exemption is still in effect, making it over RM30k cheaper than the most accessible 3er variant in Malaysia. To make matters more tempting, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia is offering balloon financing plans that make it possible to own the new 2GC from RM2,418 a month (estimated based on 80 percent loan over five years).

It’s safe to say we’ll be seeing our fair share of 2GCs on Malaysian roads soon. The ball is now in Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s court to further localise its compact offerings and level the playing field.


Source: www.bmw.com.my

 
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