Skip advert
Advertisement

Lynk & Co reveals production-ready 01 SUV at Shanghai Motor Show

Lynk & Co, the global arm of Chinese brand Geely has used the Shanghai Motor Show to debut its 01 SUV model

Lynk & Co - the new global brand belonging to Chinese manufacturer Geely - has revealed a production-ready version of its 01 luxury compact crossover, due to go on sale in the UK in 2018.

It coincides with the launch of its 03 Concept car, a sporty saloon which should follow its sibling into production sometime after the 01 has gone on sale around the globe.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Best electric cars to buy now

• Best electric cars to buy now

Both models will share technology with Lynk & Co’s fellow Geely-owned brand Volvo, including a range of engines. There will initially be a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine and a four-cylinder petrol, with hybrid and EV powertrains in the pipeline.

The 01 will go on sale in China later in 2017, extending to Europe and the US thereafter.

The premium SUV will spearhead the firm's entry into the global market, having been previewed in concept form last year. It was spotted by our spy photographers winter testing in 2016, and has even been sighted on UK roads ahead of its debut at the Shanghai Motor Show.

The lightweight but tech-heavy newcomer is being hailed as the most connected car ever, and is based on the Compact Model Architecture which will be used by fellow Geely brand Volvo to underpin future models, including the new V40 hatch, S40 saloon and XC40 SUV.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

As will be the case with all LYNK & CO’s cars, the 01 has been designed in Sweden – under the eye of Brit Peter Horbury – and engineered there, too.

LYNK & CO 01: design

With dimensions of 1,654mm (height), 4,530mm (length) and 1,855mm (width), and a wheelbases of 1,730mm the 01 is a little taller, longer and wider than the Nissan Qashqai. The front of the car is dominated by a dark, full-width grille incorporating the main headlamps, while the bonnet features two sharp perpendicular lines and full-res daytime running lights, giving it a resemblance to Porsche from some angles.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The new brand’s logo, which features contrasting gloss and matt surfaces linked together - to indicate the fusion of Western and Eastern culture that LYNK & CO represents - sits centrally.

The side is marked out by two striking parallel lines and a ‘shark’s fin’ D-pillar, along with a prominent air vent at the back of the front wing.

Inside, there’s a 10.1-inch central touchscreen and telematics systems that are constantly connected to the Internet. Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink are supported, as is Android Auto in selected markets.

A shareable ‘digital key’ allows owners to provide access to others, while the car can be controlled by smartphone via the LYNK & CO app. The firm is working with Ericsson to create what is described as an “advanced car connectivity cloud”.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Andreas Nilsson, head of design at the new company, explained: “The design brief for LYNK & CO was simple: the cars should stand out from the crowd and appeal to a truly global audience. Plus we wanted to acknowledge that our users are extremely tech-savvy – a smartphone is an integral part of their lives and our interior design reflects that.”

LYNK & CO 01: hybrid and EV powertrains

Under the skin, the LYNK & CO 01 will be available with a range of efficient powertrains, with all models featuring electrification. A seven-speed DCT, developed by Geely’s China Euro Vehicle Technology group, will be offered where suitable, alongside a manual gearbox.

Advertisement - Article continues below

LYNK & CO will initially have access to engines licensed from Volvo – a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine that was showcased at Volvo’s launch of CMA, plus a four-cylinder petrol. Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure EVs are all said to be in the pipeline.

• Best hybrid cars to buy now

And as you would expect of a brand so closely linked to Volvo, safety will be paramount too. The LYNK & CO 01 will feature the likes of forward collision warning, blind spot detection, lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking, with top crash test ratings being sought in the major markets where the car will be sold: China, the US and Europe.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

In terms of what the 01 is likely to offer in terms of driving experience, the brand says that it has been benchmarked against SUVs from premium brands and that the body has been designed to minimise noise, vibration and harshness in the cabin. Reassuring steering, a comfortable ride, excellent body control and good stability are also promised.

LYNK & CO’s radical ideas aren’t just limited to the look of the vehicle, either. Traditional trim levels, for example, will be dispensed with to be replaced by what are described as ‘fixed price collections’ inspired by fashion and tech. Model names will be redundant, too, with the 01 being followed by the 02, 03 and so on, and replaced with each subsequent generation. Horbury revealed to Auto Express that designs for the first five models have already been finalised.

LYNK & CO sports car concept

Visitors were also shown a stunning sports car concept. The car is unlikely to make production in the near future as, when asked where the stylish coupe fitted into the five LYNK & CO models planned, Peter Horbury's answer was: "Down about number six".

Advertisement - Article continues below

What the scissor-doored coupe does reveal is the brand's overarching design direction and we were told that it's a good indication of how the styling themes revealed on the 01 SUV will fit onto the future saloon model that is planned.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

More on the LYNK & CO sports car concept  

LYNK & CO: new brand, new approach

Buying the five production models that the brand says it has in the pipeline promises to be a whole new experience, with LYNK & CO teaming up with Microsoft and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to offer customers the ability to order direct online at what are termed “fixed and competitive” prices.

The company will have some stores in shopping centres and malls, too, and says it will deliver cars to buyers’ homes and pick them up for servicing when required. With distribution costs typically accounting for around 25 per cent of the price of a car, LYNK & CO is confident its strategy will keep pricing competitive. Execs promise prices that will undercut Ford and Volkswagen, but with equipment to match premium brands.

The firm also envisages that as well being offered on a traditional ‘ownership’ model, the 01 will also be available on a car-sharing or subscription basis.

Personalisation will be taken to a new level, too, with open platform tech allowing third-party developers to tailor the car to specific requirements and offer new software.

Alain Visser, senior vice president of LYNK & CO, summed up the project by highlighting how much of a revolution he hopes the brand will cause. “Our aim to is to enrich and simplify car ownership by redefining how they are bought, owned, connected, serviced and used,” he said.

The LYNK & CO 01 will arrive in Britain in late 2018 - with prices that are expected to undercut similar-sized models from Ford and Volkswagen - but Chinese sales are promised in 2017. Geely has ambitious plans for the brand and is aiming for 500,000 sales per year within the next five years.

What do you think of the LYNK & CO 01? Let us know in the comments...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Chinese car brand HiPhi is coming to the UK
HiPhi Y Shanghai - front
News

Chinese car brand HiPhi is coming to the UK

Chinese EV start-up HiPhi will sell cars in Europe by the end of 2023, with right-hand drive models for the UK set to follow
19 Apr 2023
New Toyota bZ3 electric saloon makes Shanghai Auto Show debut
Toyota bZ3 saloon Shanghai - front
News

New Toyota bZ3 electric saloon makes Shanghai Auto Show debut

The bZ3 will share plenty of parts with Toyota’s bZ4X SUV
19 Apr 2023
New Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV revealed as ultimate luxury electric car
Mercedes-Maybach EQS Shanghai - front
News

New Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV revealed as ultimate luxury electric car

The opulent Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is set to cost around £250k when it goes on sale towards the end of 2023
19 Apr 2023
EV start-up Zeekr confirms X and 001 cars to go on sale in Europe
Zeekr X - Shanghai front
News

EV start-up Zeekr confirms X and 001 cars to go on sale in Europe

Zeekr could be coming to the UK very soon with the Zeekr X and Zeekr 001 models leading the charge
19 Apr 2023

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024