BRAD ANDERSON wrote:The first model from Geely's newly-born Lynk & Co brand has just been unveiled in the form of the 01 compact SUV.
The Lynk & Co 01 will be manufactured in China, but Geely says it will be sold in high volumes in Europe and the United States. Interestingly, it not only shares its underpinnings with the upcoming Volvo XC40, but the 01 has actually been designed and engineered in Sweden as well.
Lynk & Co claims that the 01 is the world's most connected car. As such, the model will always be connected to the internet and the cloud and once it hits the market, feature an open application programming interface which will allow developers to add their own ideas to the car. Additionally, owners will be able to share their 01 with others when they don't need it and have the ability to monitor their car from a smartphone.
While it has been confirmed that the 01 will feature the same modular architecture as the upcoming XC40, no engine details have been announced. However, the model is expected to receive a selection of 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 1.5-liter three-cylinder engines from Volvo and in the future, as a plug-in hybrid too. Offered alongside the engines will be six-speed manual and seven-speed dual clutch automatic.
The 01 measures 4,530mm (178.4 in.) long, 1,654mm (65.1 in.) tall, and 1,855mm (73.0 in.) wide, with a wheelbases of 2,730mm (107.5 in.).
From a design standpoint, the Lynk & Co 01 has its own personality, with the front end, for example, boasting a high, vertical fascia with a narrow grille and small headlights popping out of the arches and hood. At the rear there is a prominent Lynk & Co badge, rooftop spoiler, dual tailpipes and oddly-shaped taillights.
Lynk & Co says that the 01 will hit the market in 2018 for an undisclosed amount. After its launch, the brand will release two additional models, dubbed the 02 and 03.
