Fledgling millennial-oriented carmaker Lynk & Co
has treated fans on social media platforms Weibo and WeChat the first glimpse
of its new car, the 05 coupé-style SUV. The name marks it out as the brand’s
fifth model – after the 01 and 02 SUVs, 03 sedan and 04 hatchback – despite
being a derivative of the 01.
That’s not to say that the 05 doesn’t have its own
unique design touches. Apart from the lower, sleeker roofline, it also features
slimmer lower headlight units (the upper lamps remain vertical in design),
integrated into the reshaped grille with vertical slots. The front bumper also
has a sportier, more angular design, deriving its design – with a large central
air intake and sharp corners – from the 03.
Along the sides, the 05 features strong front and
rear haunches and maintains the 01’s fender vents. The chrome window line trim
has a kink in it as it joins the raked rear windscreen, where you’ll also find
horizontal strakes in the black C-pillar appliqué. The rear end has a very aggressive
design with a large deck spoiler and a bumper design that mirrors the front,
along with full-width tail lights with a segmented design.
The 01’s underpinnings mean that the 05 rides on the
Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) shared with parent companies Geely and
Volvo, and it should be powered with the same engines. These include a 147 hp
1.5 litre three-cylinder and 187 hp 2.0 litre four-cylinder engines, both of
which are derived from Volvo. A plug-in hybrid model should follow later on,
also powered by the 1.5 litre mill.
