The Lynk & Co 01 is a sharable crossover

By topgear ,

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You probably haven’t heard of Lynk & Co. It’s an all-new carmaker from Geely, Volvo’s Chinese owners, and this is its first car – the imaginatively titled 01 (an 02, 03 etc… will follow before long). It’s a Qashqai-sized crossover based on the same platform as the forthcoming Volvo XC40, and was designed under the watchful eye of former Volvo design boss Peter Horbury.

There’s a bit of Porsche Cayenne in there, and a bit of Kia Sportage around the headlights, but in all we think it’s a decent looking thing. Lynk is also promising the 01 will be the world’s most connected car, with an always-on internet connection and a ‘share’ function that lets you grant access to others with ‘digital keys’.

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Its functions are controlled via app and the central 10.1in screen, which is connected to Lynk’s own digital cloud. Lynk has also gone a bit Tesla – in that cars can only be bought online or from a Lynk store.

Engines? Expect Volvo-sourced petrols – like the existing 2.0-litre and three-cylinder 1.5 – and further down the line, hybrids and EVs. There aren’t going to be conventional trim levels either – instead the 01 will be available in set specifications, called collections, that are expected to change every year.