- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He Fr Ar
Lynk&Co. When Geely met Volvo
The Lynk&Co brand was established by Geely (China) and Volvo (Sweden) in autumn 2016. Today, its assets include one successful sedan and five different SUVs. The total number of Lynk&Co cars sold by the summer of 2022 exceeded 700 thousand units. Despite being created under the wing of a Chinese company, the brand is formally considered European, as it is registered in Sweden. European buyers can purchase only one model of the brand, the Lynk&Co 01, which is available through a car sharing service or by subscription. Lynk&Co is a co-creation product, even the brand name hints at the cooperation between Europe and Asia: ‘Lynk’ refers to ‘link’ (Internet link), and ‘Co’ means ‘contrast’, ‘cooperation’ and ‘cool’. That is, we get a link to a cool, albeit contrasting, joint cooperation. But that’s not all! Lynk&Co sells its cars through online stores and shopping outlets, as well as through a subscription system for a monthly subscription fee. It is clear that this brand is targeted at young people. This is what happens when Geely meets Volvo…
Brand identity
Interestingly, Lynk&Co sells its cars through online stores and shopping outlets. Moreover, a car is delivered to a buyer immediately on the day of subscription. The company believes that these are the requirements of modern mobility and today’s lifestyle. The lack of a dealer network helps to quickly enter the market. Maintenance services are provided by Volvo’s extensive maintenance service network, which operates worldwide.
European buyers can purchase only one model of the brand, the Lynk&Co 01, which is available through a car sharing service or by subscription
Cars are not only sold, but also distributed through a subscription system for a monthly subscription fee. For 500 euros per month, the subscriber gets a car, paying only for fuel and washing, while insurance, maintenance and tires are included in the subscription fee. Each car has a ‘share’ button, which allows you to lend your car to another person for a fee. The smartphone application replaces the key. Naturally, all cars are constantly connected to the Internet.
Model range
The Lynk&Co 01 SUV is the brand’s first model. And it still represents the brand in Europe. Within its first year on the market, more than 120 thousand vehicles were sold. The second model is the Lynk&Co 02 compact crossover hatchback, followed by the Lynk&Co 03 compact sedan and the Lynk&Co 04 electric scooter. In 2019, the company released a compact coupe-like SUV based on the Lynk&Co 01. In 2020, the Lynk&Co 06 subcompact SUV was added to the model range. In the same year, the company already had 220 branded stores in China. In 2021, there was a photo of a 7-seater SUV. The latest model is currently the full-size Lynk&Co 09 SUV, which shares its platform with the Volvo XC90.
Lynk&Co 01
The Lynk&Co 01 compact SUV with a body length of 4,541 mm is based on the CMA platform, sharing it with the Volvo XC40 and V40. The architecture was developed in Gothenburg by specialists from the CEVT (China Euro Vehicle Technology) joint venture, organized by Volvo and Geely. The vehicle’s style was also designed in Gothenburg, uniting the European and Asian features. In 2020, the model began to be delivered to Europe. The SUV was updated for the new market: it received the redesigned bumpers and radiator grille, a modernized interior, finishing materials more suitable for the Europeans, and modern security systems.
Only front-wheel drive hybrid versions are available in Europe. The entry-level model is a HEV with a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine (140 hp), which is powered by a 7-speed dual-clutch robotic gearbox and an electric motor built into it, with additional 54 hp. The small lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 1.8 kWh. Unlike its ‘brother’, a plug-in SUV with a PHEV label can drive on electric traction alone (up to 70 km within the WLTP cycle). Its engine produces 180 hp, while the electric motor generates 81 hp. The battery offers a capacity of 17.6 kWh. There are only blue and black body colors, and only one trim level, albeit quite rich. In 2022, the vehicle was restyled and received updated powertrains, becoming more fuel-efficient.
Lynk&Co 02
The Lynk&Co 02 is a 4.4 m long hatchback with a wheelbase of 2.7 m. The model is richly equipped, featuring a digital instrument cluster, a large media system display turned towards the driver, Internet connectivity and a wide selection of finishing materials. There are several trim levels. The top-end version has leather interior, power front seats, dual-zone climate control, security systems, including adaptive cruise control and an automatic braking system.
The entry-level car has received a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine (156 hp) paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, as well as an optional 7-speed robotic gearbox. Cars with an engine boosted up to 180 hp come only with a robotic gearbox, while the top modifications have a 2.0-liter unit that produces 190 ‘horses’. Built on Volvo’s CMA platform, the car is front-wheel drive only.
Lynk&Co 03
The Lynk&Co 03 is a 4.6 m long compact sedan based on the CMA platform. The car has a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbo engine, as well as a 2.0-liter engine for top-end versions. The engines cooperate with manual or 7-speed robotic gearboxes. There is also a hybrid version, equipped with a 180-horsepower engine and an electric motor. In 2021, the manufacturer introduced a sports version with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 254 hp and 350 Nm, coupled with an Aisin 8-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.
Lynk&Co 05
Introduced in late 2019, the Lynk&Co 05 turned out to be a coupe-like SUV that for some time remained the brand’s most expensive model. Like all other Lynk&Co models, this compact SUV is built on the CMA platform. The SUV is 4,592 mm long, that is 80 mm longer than the Lynk&Co 01, at the same time the models have the same wheelbase of 2,734 mm. In addition to a silhouette, the Lynk&Co 05 differs from its “brother” in the design of the radiator grille, different bumpers, narrow LED strips and new rear optics, as well as larger 20-inch wheels.
The vehicle features a new multimedia system, a panoramic roof, a projection display, wireless charging, etc. The entry-level version comes with a 1.5-liter engine (180 hp), whereas the top-end one offers a 2.0-liter engine (190 hp). The most powerful version (at the start of sales) was offered with a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit producing 254 hp. Later, the model range was supplemented by a PHEV hybrid with a powertrain producing 262 hp. And in 2021, the manufacturer released the 05+ version with an engine delivering 265 hp and 380 Nm, paired with an Aisin 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Lynk&Co 06
The Lynk&Co 06 appeared on the market in September 2020. Today it is the brand’s smallest vehicle, with a body length of only 4,340 mm, and the first model built on the BMA platform from Geely. The model is front-wheel drive only, featuring a rear semi-independent suspension. At first, the Lynk&Co 06 was sold with a single 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine (3 cylinders, 177 hp, 265 Nm), which was paired with a 7-speed preselective robotic gearbox. Further, the manufacturer introduced a plug-in hybrid with a system producing 190 hp, which consists of a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and an 81-liter electric motor.
Lynk&Co 09
The Lynk&Co 09 is the latest Lynk&Co production model (as of November 2022) and the first vehicle built on the large SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform that previously gave life to the Volvo 60 and 90 series, including the flagship XC90 SUV. The vehicle appeared at the end of 2021. The 6-seater 3-row SUV is large, larger than the Swedish ‘brother’: the length is 5,042 mm, the width is 1,977 mm and the height is 1,780 mm. The model is generously equipped: all the information is displayed on the screens, the seats are trimmed with Nappa leather, the front seats are ventilated, the steering wheel is heated, there is an air freshener, a Bose sound system (14 speakers) and much more. The electronics package includes adaptive cruise control with lane keeping and traffic sign recognition functions.
The car is driven by one of three powertrain options. The entry-level version comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 252 hp, a 48-volt starter-generator and an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The vehicle is all-wheel drive, featuring a rear clutch. There are also hybrid versions with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine on the front axle and an electric motor on the rear. Later came the EM-P rechargeable hybrid. The 2-litre engine is coupled with a motor-generator (82 hp) and a traction motor that produces 177 hp and 309 Nm. The rear axle is equipped with its own electric motor, producing 136 hp and 320 Nm. The whole system can work both in serial and in parallel modes. The vehicle can move on electric traction, while the gasoline engine serves as a generator for the batteries. If necessary, it is connected. The entire system is capable of delivering 520 hp and 844 Nm. The vehicles feature a spring-loaded front suspension and composite transverse spring rear suspension. The most expensive versions can be equipped with an optional air suspension.
The Next Day concept car
The Next Day concept car is a large car, almost 5 meters long and 2 meters wide, that looks recognizable thanks to proprietary optics. The car is endowed with a Lynk E-Motive powertrain. Options include three internal combustion engines, two electric motors and three batteries of varying capacities, providing an electric driving range between 60 and 180 km. There are two types of transmissions: parallel and sequential hybrids (and their combination), as well as different types of drive.
