Lynk & Co 02
FIRST DRIVE Cool new SUV could change the way we buy cars
Groundbreaking new SUV driven in China
THERE is a chance you may not have heard of Lynk & Co. The brand only appeared at the end of 2016, but in that short space of time it has come a relatively long way. Two models are already on sale in China, with a third in the pipeline. Think of the company as Volvo’s more adventurous younger brother, and you’ll be on the right lines.
It will be a few years until Lynk & Co appears in the UK with right-hand-drive models, but the brand is coming, and the 02 – which we’ve driven here for the first time – has been designed with the European market in mind.
The company’s rapid growth has been made possible by the power of its parent company, Geely, one of China’s largest car makers. When Lynk & Co arrives it will be positioned as a more affordable alternative to Volvo, just as Skoda is to Volkswagen. But being cheaper doesn’t mean a sacrifice when it comes to design or tech, because the 02 is essentially a Volvo XC40 in a new designer suit. Visually, it’s a welcome antidote to the current tidal wave of mundane and conservative SUVS; the 02’s more daring shape and design cues should give it real kerb appeal.
It’s a similar story inside, where the cabin is trimmed with a mix of leather, aluminium and textured plastics. A 10.2-inch display sits flush in the centre console and is controlled by touch or voice commands. As testament to how intuitive the infotainment system is to use, even in our Chinese-spec test car the menus and sub-menus were simple enough to navigate.
The driving position is low, there’s lots of adjustment in the steering wheel and build quality is first rate. Our car rolled out of Lynk & Co’s brand new £1.4billion state-of-the-art factory in Zhangjakou, on the outskirts of Beijing – and on this evidence, it looks like the negative connotations associated with cars being ‘Made in China’ will soon be a thing of the past.
In Europe, every Lynk & Co model will be electrified, which means the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine we’re driving here won’t be offered. It will, however, form the basis of the plug-in hybrid version.
The trademark three-cylinder thrum was well muted in our car. Refinement has been a particular focus point in the car’s development, and that becomes more apparent as you begin to make progress. The light steering, cushioned ride and smooth seven-speed dualclutch automatic gearbox make the 02 composed and civilised to drive.
It also packs a punch, developing 178bhp and 245Nm of torque. Power delivery is far smoother than the boosty and frantic nature for which many threecylinder engines are known, suiting the car’s more mature and refined character.
There was some noticeable wind noise around the A-pillar at motorway speeds, while the ride felt a little more unsettled, fidgeting over surfaces that seemed perfectly smooth to the eye. European models will get a slightly tweaked suspension set-up, however.
Our test route around the roads of the Zhangjakou plant didn’t give us the
“Visually, it’s a welcome antidote to the current tidal wave of mundane SUVS”
opportunity to fully assess the car’s handling, but it’s clear the softer and more comfort-focused set-up is unlikely to win favour with keener drivers.
Despite the SUV’S relatively compact dimensions, the 02 is practical; there’s enough space for two six-footers in the back, with knee and headroom to spare. There are no boot measurements just yet, but it’s clear the space available is pretty standard fare for this type of vehicle.
What’s not so standard is the way Lynk & Co will sell its vehicles. Customers can buy them outright – our top-spec 02 costs around 200,000 RMB in China (£23,000) – or you can pay a monthly subscription to cover all vehicle costs. It’s too early for any initial figures, but the complexity and hassle that fixed fee will remove from the car-buying process will surely appeal to the younger motorists Lynk & Co is targeting.
“Cabin is trimmed in leather, aluminium and textured plastics, and has 10.2-inch display”