Lynk&Co 02: European-focused crossover is "production ready"

Lynk&Co’s design boss Andreas Nilsson said that the 02 “sits at the absolute centre of our brand”.

Like the 01, the 02 is built on Geely's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, also used by Volvo for the XC40. The platform is highly adjustable, and the 02 has a shorter wheelbase, lower ride height and wider rear track that the 01. It also has stiffer rear suspension, to make it more sporty.

Mats Fagerhag, who headed up technical development of the 02, said that while the 01 was conceived primarily for China, the smaller model has been given a more European focus. "It's a bit more firm and stiff," he said. "It will be more sporty, with more high-speed stability. It will be fun to drive."

The 02 will be offered in a range of two-tone colours schemes, with a limited number of 'personas' instead of trims.

Lynk&Co has put a heavy focus on in-car connectivity, with large touchscreens and infotainment systems, along with what it claims is the ‘world’s first in-car share button’. Lynk&Co models won’t feature traditional trim levels and options. Instead, the firm says it will offer a series of one-price collections.

The company is planning to offer a total of eight 02 'persona', which cover the available engines and colours.

First drive: Lynk & Co 01 prototype review

The company says that its models will be designed with European handling tastes, with an emphasis on being fun to drive. 

Alain Visser, Lynk&Co's sales boss, said: "We will roll out sales with an initial focus on key European cities for our target audience of globally connected urbanites. We will manufacture in Europe, for Europe, focusing initially on hybrid-only electrified derivatives of our new range of cars."

Lynk&Co will offer cars via a subscription model similar to that offered by Volvo’s new performance brand Polestar. That system will allow customers to choose anywhere from a one to 36-month loan period, and will enable to 'share' their cars, for a fee, when not needed. Visser said the subscriptions would be "no commitment", helping the firm to reach a wide customer market. He added that the brand was "for people who don't want to own cars", adding: "There are lots of people who love cars, but don't want to own one."

While Lynk&Co plans to make heavy use of an online store, it will open a number of stores in European cities. The first of these will be in Amsterdam, with London following soon after alongside Barcelona, Berlin and Brussels.

There will also be a series of pop-up shops in European cities, using a fleet of trucks. At the launch event, a graphic suggested that Bradford, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle would be among the cities the pop-up should would visit.