Lynk & Co 08: Chinese Volvo SUV sibling a possibility for Australia
Lynk & Co – a car brand owned by Volvo's parent company, Chinese car giant Geely – has previewed a new family SUV, which could come to Australia by the middle of the decade.
Lynk & Co – one of many brands owned by Chinese car giant Geely, alongside Volvo, Polestar and Lotus – has previewed a new mid-size SUV twinned under the skin with future Volvo models.
Due for unveiling on March 30, the Lynk & Co 08 is the seventh model from the Geely-owned brand, and is slated for Chinese sales during the second half of 2023.
Geely indicated plans in late 2021 to introduce Lynk & Co to Australia by 2025 – but it is unclear if this plan is on track, or if the 08 SUV would be one of the vehicles offered.
Underpinned by a Volvo architecture, the five-seat Lynk & Co 08 features a number of design cues seen on concept cars from the Chinese company.
Included are distinctive split LED headlamps, a vertical side styling feature finished in black, and a full-width LED tail lamp that wraps around into the rear wheel arches.
An earlier set of teaser images depicting a camouflaged prototype provided details about the shape and size of the new SUV model, which is based on an upgraded version of the platform beneath the Volvo XC40.
The Lynk & Co 08 is slated to be powered by a new 'E-Motive' hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, three-speed transmission, two electric motors and a battery pack of varying capacity.
Two versions of the E-Motive system are reportedly planned.
The first, known as the EM-F, is what's known as a 'parallel' hybrid – in which the petrol engine charges a small battery that in turn powers the electric motors to drive the wheels, for limited electric driving range but no need to recharge.
Meanwhile, the second version – called EM-P – is a plug-in hybrid which allows the battery to be charged at up to 50kW for an extended electric driving range from the electric motors.
The petrol engine to be used by both hybrid versions is said to quote thermal efficiency of up to 44.2 per cent – among the best in the automotive industry – and contribute to fuel savings of up to 15 per cent compared to existing Lynk & Co hybrid cars.
Chinese-market versions of the new Lynk & Co model are also tipped to feature a new infotainment system developed in partnership between Geely and Chinese smartphone company Meizu.
Further details about the new Lynk & Co model are due to be released at its unveiling later this month.
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