Production-ready 01 makes its debut, too
LYNK & Co also showed the production version of its 01 crossover in Shanghai – a car that will project the reach of parent company Geely into worldwide markets.
As such, the 01 is probably the most serious effort yet from a Chinese manufacturer, with a heavy European focus to its design and technologies, and levels of design and quality as yet unseen from a Chinese brand.
That European influence is no coincidence, as the 01 was styled in Sweden and shares its platform and running gear with the upcoming Volvo XC40. A choice of 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol units will be available initially, with plug-in hybrid and fully electric variants following at a later date.
The 01 is a little longer, wider and taller than a Nissan Qashqai, and distinguishes itself with split LED daytime running lights, a unique tail-light signature and unusual details like a reverse-mounted shark-fin aerial for the car’s 4G connection. The 01 goes on sale in China later in 2017, with UK sales expected in 2018. The company “hasn’t yet decided” on pricing, but last year bosses suggested they would aim to undercut the likes of Ford and VW.
“The 01 is a little longer, wider and taller than a Nissan Qasqhai”