Link & Co 01, the most connected SUV in the world, will be unveiled in April

Lynk & Co will present its first production vehicle at the Shanghai Motor Show. The crossover will offer a novel carsharing feature.

The first production vehicle from the Link & Co brand will make its public debut next April at the Shanghai Auto Show. The crossover will be called Lynk & Co 01 and will reach the Chinese market in the fourth quarter of 2017. According to the Chinese company, it will be the most connected vehicle in the world.

The first units of the Lynk & Co 01 will be offered in a hybrid version thanks to the use of a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that will be accompanied by a small electric motor. The specifications of this powertrain have not yet been revealed, although it has been confirmed that the crossover will feature another, larger engine – 2.0-litre four-cylinder – manufactured by Volvo.

Although the mechanics of the Link & Co 01 will not be the most revolutionary aspect of this model, its connectivity certainly will be. The Chinese carmaker states that its new crossover will be the most connected vehicle in the world; it will always be connected to the Internet and the cloud, and it will also feature an application programming interface that will allow several vehicle functions to be adjusted. The 01 incorporates a carsharing feature that announces to other users its availability for rental when the owner is not using the vehicle.

The initial plan of Lynk & Co was for the commercialisation of the new crossover to reach Europe and the United States in 2018; however, it will be necessary to wait until 2019 for this to happen, for reasons that remain unknown. In addition to the 01, Lynk & Co is expected to present two new models to its range – the 02 and 03 – which will include new SUV vehicles and a saloon.