SPA finally used in Lynk & Co!

SPA is Volvo’s mid to large size platform, both the 60 series and 90 series are born from it. The recently unveiled Lynk & Co 09 is Lynk & Co’s first model built on the SPA platform. It is positioned as a mid to large size luxury SUV with dimensions of 5042/1977/1780 mm, even slightly larger than Volvo XC90.

In the overall design, Lynk & Co 09 continues the family style, but at the detail level, it shows its flagship identity without reservation.

The front face is where the designer emphasizes. With the size of a mid to large size SUV, its grille uses vertical stripes instead of horizontal stripes in other Lynk & Co models. It’s up to individual taste whether it looks good or not, but what cannot be denied is that this design makes it more aggressive.

Its headlights use an embedded integrated design, making it look more profound. Its light source is matrix-style and has a follow-turn function, which is impressive in specifications.

If you look at the front grille from the side, you will find that it is not a pure flat surface, but presents a wave curve that protrudes forward. Some car pictures look mediocre, but the actual effect is good. On the one hand, it is because the size is large enough, and the scene is full of momentum or graceful posture. On the other hand, it is because some of the concave-convex surfaces are difficult to restore in pictures, which affects people’s judgment.

Due to its huge size, its side is very stretched, without complicated lines, giving people a dignified feeling, which is also what this level needs. The showcased car has 21-inch wheels, which are quite spectacular. It is worth noting that its side windows use special technology, allowing the windows between A and D pillars and the windows at B and C pillars to be on the same flat surface, like a mirror surface, this is also a means to show a sense of luxury-costs used in seemingly insignificant areas. In addition, the door handles are hidden, keeping the side simple and smooth to the greatest extent.

The design of the tail is relatively conventional, the dot-matrix style light bead has very high recognition, and the internal structure uses a double-layer gradient crystal glass panel, which is remarkable at the detail level. The four-exhaust pipes below are not worth showing off in this size of car model.

The interior of the Lynk & Co 09 features a brand new layout, with the center console slightly tilted towards the driver and a total of six screens in the car, including a new style of steering wheel. In terms of details, such as the gear shift area, it’s all very much in line with what we’ve come to expect from Volvo. The car definitely needs a new interior design that’s more suited to high-end models, as the previous design was better suited to smaller, more refined cars while bigger cars need more grandeur.

Can you count the six screens? They include a 12-inch center console screen, a 6-inch LCD air conditioning panel, two 1.4-inch air conditioning knob display screens, a 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel, and a 12.8-inch head-up display.

Although most functions are implemented through a touch screen, Lynk & Co 09’s interior buttons still use silver-plating technology and have a tactile touch surface with a grainy feel to enhance the sense of touch when in use. The aluminum decorative panel in the car is also carefully designed and features two patterns, Sky City and Meteorite, created using etching technology for a unique look, a common trick used by Lynk & Co models.

For ambiance, the Lynk & Co 09 uses more than 16 million colors for its ambient lighting and has for the first time added a fragrance system that can hold three fragrances at a time, and supports scene mode linkage, allowing the scent to change with the environment and mood, adding a touch of luxury to the car.

The currently released model is the 222 arrangement, with a six-seater version featuring armrests and heated middle-row seats, and there is a possibility that a 232 version with seven seats will be released in the future.

As can be seen, even with the third row of seats upright, the trunk space is still ample and practical. At the rear of the car, there are buttons for the electric folding / raising of the rear seats, as well as a button for adjusting the height of the trunk, making it very high-end and convenient for loading and unloading.

The trunk space of Lynk & Co 09 performs well, which is partly due to its body size and suspension design. Its suspension is the typical SPA platform design, similar to XC90, with front double wishbone and rear multi-link, and the rear suspension is leaf spring – this helps to reduce the intrusion of the rear suspension into the trunk space.

In terms of power, Lynk & Co 09 will be equipped with the Drive-E series 2.0T engine, matched with Aisin 8AT gearbox, 48V mild hybrid system, and BorgWarner sixth-generation four-wheel drive system. Its maximum horsepower is 252 Ps, and the maximum torque is 350 Nm, which is basically the same as the power level of the XC90 B5. Additionally, according to the plan, Lynk & Co 09 will also have HEV and PHEV hybrid versions.

Currently, Lynk & Co 09 has reached a high level in terms of architecture, size, power, and luxury presented. It is really exciting to see whether its driving and riding experience can reach the level of XC90.

Previously, Lynk & Co mainly deployed its troops on the CMA platform, and it did achieve good results. However, the CMA platform is a small and medium-sized car platform, which limits the playing space and restricts Lynk & Co’s model level. Some people have said why Lynk & Co doesn’t make a B-level car. It is not that Lynk & Co doesn’t want to, but the CMA platform does not allow it. Forcibly launching a B-level car on the CMA platform will make it difficult to compete in terms of various indicators. Therefore, Geely took the initiative to downgrade and used the CMA platform to create the A+ level sedan, Starry, and the compact SUV, Starry Sky L, both of which have advantages in size, space, and power.

After applying the SPA platform, Lynk & Co will emerge a new batch of high-specification models, and they are likely to change the pattern of the domestic auto market. When Lynk & Co’s first model, 01, was launched, its idea was to create a high-level car first to set a tone for the brand. Years later, Lynk & Co chose 09 to launch the first shot of the SPA, also with the same idea of setting a high tone for the new platform.The price and specific configuration of Lynk & Co 09 have not been announced yet. It is speculated that its price may be similar to the all-new Highlander. If so, 09’s model level will be slightly higher than Highlander and its expected configuration will be more abundant, showing its strength that surpasses that of Highlander. Perhaps Highlander cannot raise its price arbitrarily anymore.

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.