2025 BMW 218 Gran Coupe debuts in Malaysia - Est RM241k

KUALA LUMPUR:  BMW Malaysia has refreshed its entry-level four-door coupé with the introduction of the new BMW 218i Gran Coupé Sport, a model that builds on the original 2020 debut with more polish, more tech, and a bolder stance.

From the outside, you’ll immediately spot the design tweaks. The iconic kidney grille has been redesigned with a mix of vertical and diagonal bars, and it now sits flanked by Adaptive LED headlights with cornering lights and anti-glare high beams.

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Below that, a set of aggressive side air intakes and a centre-split lower intake hint at its M-influenced design. The sculpted bonnet and vertical LED daytime running lights round off what is now a much more assertive-looking front end.

BMW hasn’t tampered much with the Gran Coupé’s familiar profile — it still keeps that sloping roofline and short overhangs — but the updated Hofmeister kink now comes with a subtle “2” emboss for branding flair.

At the rear, the taillights go vertical and the bumper gets a sportier diffuser-like insert to help visually widen the car. It rides on 18-inch bi-colour alloys, and other exterior bits like the mirror caps and window trim get a mix of gloss black and satin aluminium finishes.

Inside, the 218i adopts BMW’s newer tech layout — dominated by a BMW Curved Display that merges a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch central touchscreen. It’s now running BMW Operating System 9, complete with QuickSelect for easier widget navigation and voice commands via the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard.

Trim-wise, it’s all about clean lines and ambient lighting. The car features “Illuminated” Aluminium Graphite trim pieces and comes upholstered in Veganza perforated leatherette, which is BMW-speak for sustainable synthetic leather.

Front occupants get power-adjustable sport seats with memory, while those in the rear benefit from quilted cushioning and decent legroom for the segment. Practicality hasn’t been forgotten either — the boot offers a usable 430 litres of cargo space.

The powertrain is unchanged from the outgoing model: a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine pushing out 156 hp and 230 Nm, sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission. While unchanged, the horsepower has been bumped up a bit from 140PS while the torque has been reduced by 10Nm from the outgoing model. 

It’ll do 0–100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and maxes out at 230 km/h. It’s been tweaked slightly for efficiency via Miller cycle technology, aimed at cutting emissions and fuel usage.

Underneath, the chassis features MacPherson struts up front and a three-link rear setup, with stabilisers that are preloaded to tighten body control in the corners. ARB traction control — a setup trickled down from higher-end BMWs — is included as standard for quicker, more responsive grip correction on slippery roads.

In terms of driver assistance, it comes with Driving Assistant, which includes Lane Change Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (with braking), Exit Warning, and Predictive Forward Collision Warning. For parking, there’s a Reversing Assistant that remembers your last 50 metres, plus a Rear View Camera for tight spaces.

Other key features include:

• BMW Live Cockpit Plus, bringing real-time driving data, OTA updates and a widget-style interface.

• BMW Digital Premium, allowing streaming video, games, and access to podcasts and music while parked.

• BMW Digital Key Plus, turning your smartphone into your car key, complete with remote sharing.

The new BMW 218i Gran Coupé Sport is available in Alpine White, Black Sapphire, and Cape York Green, all paired with black Veganza upholstery.

BMW Malaysia has yet to confirm an exact price, but it’s expected to come in at around RM241,000, inclusive of BMW Service & Repair Inclusive (BSRi) — which adds a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and free scheduled servicing.

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