BMW’s big day: G22 4 Series and locally-assembled X7 launched in Malaysia

By daryl, 26 February 2021

For all of the negativity associated with it, 2020 turned out to be a defining year for BMW Group Malaysia. The Bavarian marque’s three key brands – BMW, Mini and BMW Motorrad – secured 52 percent of the luxury market share to put BMW at the highest rung of the segment within a 12-month period that was particularly tough on premium makes. And it’s only just getting started.

The group’s latest product offensive sees six new models across three brands launched at one go. Naturally, the most notable debutants come from BMW’s four-wheeled camp, with the G22 4 Series finally making its Malaysian debut while the X7 is re-launched as a more accessible, locally-assembled flagship SUV.

2021 BMW 430i Coupe M Sport (CBU)

The 430i M Sport is the new 4er’s sole spec for Malaysia at present. The obvious talking point here is the larger pair of kidney grilles, though it’s worth noting that they aren’t as offensively oversized as the ones gracing the faces of the M3 and M4. The upsizing is a bit more tasteful in the standard coupe, which is 130mm longer, 27mm wider and 6mm taller than the outgoing F32 model. M Sport styling, which includes a set of slick 19-inch alloys that veil distinctively blue calipers, certainly add to the sporty appeal – the suspension and brakes are, in fact, legit M Sport equipment made for enthusiasts.

Backing up the 430i’s persona of performance is a familiar two-litre ‘TwinPower’ four-pot turbo good for 258hp and 400Nm of torque. Combined with an eight-speed automatic, the powertrain sends the 430i to 100kph from a standstill in 5.8 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 250kph. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the same components deliver a respectable 6.6 litres per 100km consumption average with emissions rated at 151g per kilometre.

2021 BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence (CKD)

As far as statements go, few are as big as the latest model to roll off BMW’s local assembly line in Kulim, Kedah. Launched here in 2019 as the brand’s largest SUV to date, the X7 is now a CKD offering, featuring the same three-litre straight-six powertrain as before. The 40i-spec mill delivers 340hp and 450Nm to all four wheels via Munich’s signature xDrive AWD and an eight-speed automatic. Zero to 100kph is rated at 6.1 seconds on paper, which is fairly swift for a seven-seat SUV of the X7’s hefty proportions.

Specced in Pure Excellence trim, the Malaysia-spec X7 CKD rides on 21-inch footwear with two-axle air suspension and Dynamic Damber Control. The interior is tarted up with diamond-cut trim elements, five-zone climate control, ‘Rear Entertainment Professional’ system, a panoramic roof and a Harman Kardon sound system with 16 loud speakers. In spite of its three-row layout, there’s still 325 litres of boot space in the rear, expandable to a whopping 2,120 litres with all backrests folded down.

The 430i and X7 are similarly equipped on the safety and connectivity fronts, with the BMW Live Cockpit Professional infotainment systems on both models running the new BMW Operating System 7. Parking Assistant, Reversing Assistant, and a variety of electronic driver aids feature prominently on both brochures as well.

Now, onto prices; the fully-imported BMW 430i Coupe M Sport goes for RM454,800 on-the-road without insurance. It's a slight bump from the RM418,800 quoted when order books were first opened, but it includes the 'Innovation Package' as standard. As for the X7, local assembly has dropped the entry ticket from RM888,800 before to an estimated RM708,000, which translates to a whopping RM180,000 in overall savings. All prices include the full bells and whistles of BMW’s ‘premium ownership experience’, which means you’ll get a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and free scheduled service instead of the recently announced, two-year ‘basic’ coverage.