The 03 Concept.
SHANGHAI: Chinese firm Lynk & Co first came to prominence when it unveiled its production 01 crossover at the end of 2016.
That model became the world's fastest-selling car when it went on sale in China last year. And now Lynk & Co could become a lot more famous outside its home market as a hatchback prototype has recently been seen undergoing winter testing.
The production 01 crossover wasn't the last vehicle the Chinese automaker revealed, as there have also been two further sedan concepts since then. It's perhaps a little surprising that the latest prototype spotted being road tested is a hatchback rather than a crossover, but the distinct headlight design suggests it couldn't really be anything other than a model from Lynk & Co.
That's because they have a unique, frog-like design that's very close to what we see with the 01 crossover, which consists of a bulbous upper lamp that sits on top of the front wings and another lamp lower down in the front fascia, that's probably connected to the grille.
It's also almost certain this new model from the Chinese automaker will be based on Volvo architecture, and more specifically the Chinese-owned company's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). It's the same platform underpinning the latest Volvo XC40, which will also be the basis for the upcoming new S40, and therefore there's a good chance the Lynk & Co hatch will also make use of Volvo powertrains too.
Last year, the company announced it was planning to launch its first vehicle in the American market in 2019 in San Francisco. However, given recent hurdles regarding Chinese companies selling in the United States, it could be that Lynk & Co, with such strong links to Volvo, might look to launch a model in Europe first instead.
