Lynk & Co boom
Exclusive images and details of Volvo sister brand’s big plans
Geely-owned Lynk & Co is gearing up for an assault on the European car market with two new models, Auto Express can exclusively reveal.
Despite the brand’s relative infancy, Lynk & Co is already planning at least two electrified models based on Volvo’s SPA platform. The cars are expected to appear early in the next decade.
The first will be a big SUV. Our inside source told us: “We have plans to work on the XC90 platform. But we will also look at fully electric. We are already working on four different versions, which won’t all come from Volvo.”
Our contact, who works in the firm’s product management department, told us Lynk & Co is also working on another model for the European market.
“We have a plan for a saloon based on the S90 architecture for after 2020,” he said. “For Europe, we would also introduce the Lynk & Co version of S90.”
The brand, owned by Volvo’s parent company, Geely, is already looking to sell the Xc60-based 03 and the XC40based 02 in Europe, but insiders told Auto Express that it is looking to expand even further. Following the company’s nomenclature, the two cars are likely to be called 04 and 05.
Both models will only be hybrid or fully electric, with our source admitting “in Europe, we will only offer New Energy Vehicles”. He couldn’t confirm prices or specs, but suggested that while Volvo aims to compete with premium German brands, Lynk & Co will aim slightly lower. “We will have the same quality and tech, but the price will be lower,” he added.
The newcomers are expected to have similar looks and proportions, and be inspired by the existing 02 and soon-tobe-revealed 03 models. The SUV could be offered with seven seats, too.
In other news, our contact confirmed that the marque is also building a sports saloon for the Asian market. The company insider told us the car will be based on the XC40’S CMA platform.
“The saloon will use a version of our 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor, with around 250bhp,” he said. “We will also see this after 2020, but it won’t be for Europe.”
Our source suggested that despite being a saloon, Lynk & Co would target hot hatches such as the Ford Focus RS.
“Lynk & Co is already planning at least two electrified models based on Volvo’s SPA platform”