A hybrid of the past and the future, we think.
New-mobility brand Lynk & Co. has begun teasing its new, imaginatively-named 03 saloon, the third model from the brand (who would’ve thought it) and their first-ever saloon. The 01 and 02 SUVs have already addressed the growing popularity of SUVs; the 03 will appeal best (we think) to the Chinese market where three-box saloons remain a hot commodity.
It’s said that Chinese buyers prefer more traditional bodystyles, which is perhaps why the 03 looks the way it is. Despite being a brand-new car from a brand-new brand, the 03 has a very traditional three-box look to it. The front and rear are both very bluff, and the passenger cell is tall, wide, and has eschewed the expected and commonplace coupe roofline in favour of a more accommodating rear end.
Lynk’s official shots of the 03 confirm a few things. Firstly, the 03 remains faithful for established Lynk & Co. design features, like the twin-clad upper-daytime running lights, the split LED headlights, and the squared-off look of the whole thing. There’s an interesting bit of chrome trim that goes over the tip of the windows and into the rear windscreen (which doesn’t look that different from the Kia Optima frankly), while the rear features Lynk’s signature taillight signature as well as what looks like a seriously-aggressive rear diffuser.
Take everything into consideration, as well as the rather daring wheel design, and it’s clear that this is some kind of performance-esque model, so it’s not a difficult assumption to make that cooking models will arrive later in the 03’s life.
The 03 will be built on the Volvo-engineered Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) paltform, shared with a variety of other Geely models as well as the Volvo XC40 compact SUV. As such, the powertrains will also be shared across other CMA cars, which means a raft of forced-induction powertrains, petrol-electric hybrids, as well as perhaps an all-electric version down the line.
Lynk & Co. as a brand wants to be a member of the digital generation, and as such they aim to offer an ownership experience more in-keeping with the demands of today rather than keeping to a more traditional business model. As such, the marque is expected to offer a subscription-based service (similar to Care by Volvo) for their cars as well as the ability to ‘share’ your car with the press of a button.
Lynk & Co. production has already begun in China, while a second plant in Belgium (that already assembles Volvos) will come online in 2019. Following that (and the launch of the 03) should be the commencement of production of right-hand drive Lynk & Co. models at the PROTON plant in Tanjung Malim, Malaysia.
Stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as they come.
