The Lynk & Co 08 plug-in hybrid arrives in Europe with a 200 km electric range

For all those European customers who need a new vehicle but still can’t decide between a fully electric or a plug-in hybrid, Geely has an interesting proposal for them. The new Lynk & Co 08 will arrive in the European market before summer with one of the longest fully electric ranges to be found in a plug-in hybrid model. So much so that many will forget that, although only occasionally, the fuel tank still needs to be filled with petrol.

The Chinese manufacturer promises, no more and no less, 200 km of WLTP electric range for its new PHEV SUV, which goes on sale this very month of June with a price in Germany of 52,995 euros.

Lynk & Co is one of the brands of the Chinese automotive giant Geely, focused on the Premium segment with vehicles that are not only electric, as is the case with Zeekr or Polestar. Although in Europe the strategy of Lynk & Co has so far been based on the subscription model, rather than the direct sale of its vehicles, with the 08 this is going to change.

We do not yet know all the technical details of the plug-in hybrid version of this SUV that will arrive in Europe, but we can get a good idea of what we will have here by taking a look at the technical specifications of the version sold in China. The Lynk & Co 08 uses an evolution of the CMA platform, which is used by other models from other brands of the Chinese giant, such as the Volvo XC40 or the Polestar 2. This evolution of the platform optimises interior space and improves the electrical architecture to support more advanced systems.

Technical specifications of the model sold in China

The Lynk & Co 08 features a 1.5-litre turbocharged combustion engine, with a two-speed hybrid transmission that can direct power only to the front wheels or also to an electric rear axle in all-wheel-drive variants. If the model arriving in Europe keeps the same technical specifications, it will also have a 39.5 kWh battery that will allow it to cover the aforementioned 200 km without consuming a single drop of petrol.

Unlike other plug-in hybrid models from the competition, the 08 supports DC fast charging. This allows it to increase the battery’s state of charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 33 minutes. On the other hand, and considering that in addition to the battery it also has a petrol tank, in total the manufacturer promises a combined range of 1,100 km.

Finally, it should be noted that the aforementioned improvements to the platform allow for more interior space, with a generous boot and a completely flat floor in the rear seat area. In short, the perfect vehicle for many families, or for anyone who enjoys weekend getaways or holidays taking plenty of luggage with them.

The Lynk & Co 08 will begin circulating on European roads from next June, and will be available in two versions, Core and More. The price in Germany of the first, the most affordable, is 52,995 euros.