BMW 2 Series AT MY 1

At the Malaysian launch of the F45 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, two units of the five-seater, front-wheel drive MPV were exhibited - a Standard trim unit with an automatic transmission and a Luxury Line model with a manual gearbox. No surprise then that news of a manual-equipped people mover were quickly dissipated by the enthusiasts and dismissed by the jaded, who were convinced such a setup would never sell.

This time round, it appears that the enthusiasts will be able to have their cake and eat it as a check revealed that the BMW 218i Active Tourer Luxury is indeed on sale with a six-speed manual transmission for RM228,800 OTR without insurance - RM20k off the original Luxury trim list price.

Interested parties are advised to plonk their orders down as soon as possible as limited units will be available - batches of the automatic transmission-equipped Luxury models are due to arrive in June 2015.

To recap, the BMW 218i Active Tourer Luxury is equipped with a 1.5 litre TwinPower Turbo petrol three-cylinder engine (the one found on the BMW i8). Power figures include 136 hp at 4,500 to 6,000 rpm and 220 Nm of torque between 1,250 and 4,300 rpm, 230 Nm on overboost. Equipped with the said automatic gearbox, the 218i AT sprints from 0-100 km/h in 9.2 seconds and hits a top speed of 205 km/h.

While standard equipment across the range include auto start/stop, LED headlights with daytime running lights, a 6.5-inch monitor with reverse camera, auto air-con and an electronic parking brake, the Luxury trim adds on 18-inch Y-spoke wheels, Comfort Access, Park Assistant and an auto tailgate.

Inside, Leather Dakota upholstery is presented alongside a 205-watt, seven speaker audio system. Curiously, steering wheel audio controls are not featured on the Luxury variants. A two-year/unlimited mileage warranty and a three-year/60,000 km BS+RI package is included.

So, to those who have proclaimed to everyone that they would gladly purchase a manual transmission-equipped BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, time to put your money where your mouth is.

BMW 218i Active Tourer Luxury

BMW 218i Active Tourer Standard