Remember back in October we told you about Lynk & Co – a new car brand from Chinese giant Geely, which also owns Volvo and the London Taxi Company?
Well, now the world has seen what their actual cars will look like following the unveiling of the production-ready 01 and the 03 Concept at the 2017 Shanghai International Auto Motor Show.
01 coming first
The 01 SUV won’t stray too far from its original concept when it goes on sale in its native China before the end of 2017, before launching in Europe from 2019.
It will use a family of engines shared with Volvo cars, such as the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre petrol units, while a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid version will also become available eventually.
Testing and development of the 01 has been pretty harsh, having undergone a comprehensive programme around the world, from the frozen plains of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia to the unforgiving heat of China’s Turpan desert.
Lynk & Co says its cars are optimised from the ground up to suit all tastes, regardless of region, with quality and performance benchmarks set against the world’s premium auto manufacturers.
What about this new concept?
Well, the 03 is a bold and sporty mid-size sedan that has been in development for more than two years and will join the range ‘in due course’.
Looks-wise, the concept is a twist on the classic sedan look, maintaining the convention of an upright C-pillar and a defined boot, but with a strongly angled D-pillar to create a smoother silhouette, resulting in a much sportier profile.
The LED daytime running lights sit high on the bonnet (a trait we should expect with every Lynk & Co car, apparently), while distinctive parallel horizontal lines run the length of the hood to reinforce the car’s front profile. The sleek roofline is further accentuated with yellow-bronze lines separating the roof and body, both physically and visually.
It is built on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), an advanced, modular architecture capable of accommodating many body styles and sizes, which also underpins Volvo Cars’ new compact vehicle range and many upcoming Geely models.
A wide range of different technology, powertrains, and electrical and safety systems can be accommodated by the CMA platform, which was developed by China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT) – the shared Geely and Volvo Cars research and innovation centre based in Gothenburg, Sweden.
‘Turn heads’
Peter Horbury, executive vice president of design at Geely Auto Group, said the brand set out to create a sedan that turns heads to make a mark in China’s crowded and difficult sedan market.
“Our first sedan encapsulates muscular solid volumes, our unique brand elements and intricate, high-tech details, resulting in a design that is bold and sporty,” he commented.
Lynk & Co aims to offer the most connected cars in the world, with the first ever in-car digital share function. The brand will offer a lifetime warranty on every car as well as online sales and home delivery.
I guess we’ll have to wait until 2019 before we enjoy such luxuries…
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