Peter Lyon
January 25, 2024
Entering the Vietnamese market late last year, Lynk & Co has now officially opened a store in Ho Chi Minh City and launched the 01 and 05 SUVs there. And Malaysian motorists will be happy to hear that Geely has just announced the brand will be landing here soon.
With a starting price of VND999 million (around RM191,000), the C-category SUV in Vietnam will only be available in one variant, the Lynk & Co 01, and will be reasonably priced in comparison to most of its main competitors in the segment, such as the new Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Peugeot 3008.
Built on the same Geely Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform as the Volvo XC40, the Lynk & Co 01 has a wheelbase of 2,734 mm and dimensions of 4,512 mm x 1,857 mm wide x 1,673 mm making it slightly larger than the Volvo.
The C-segment SUV will be available in Vietnam with a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine that produces 218 hp and 325 Nm and mated to an eight-speed automated gearbox that drives the front wheels.
Highlights of the model’s features in Vietnam include the panoramic sunroof, 19-inch alloy wheels, 3D LED tail lights, LED headlights, and functional roof rails. Inside, the conventional dashboard employs physical buttons and switches centred around a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, an electronic shift-by-wire gear lever, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, an electronic parking brake, and a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display.
Regarding safety, the Lynk & Co 01’s advanced driver assistance suite includes technologies like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control with “Queueing Assistant,” traffic jam aid, and emergency lane keeping assist.
The Lynk & Co 05, which is simply the 01 transformed into a coupe, is available for VND1.599 million, or roughly RM307,000. The 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine powers it as well, but for the coupe, it produces 254 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Unlike the 01, the 05 will offer all-wheel drive, and will be paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The Lynk & Co 05 shares many of the same features as its sibling, but it does have a larger set of 20-inch alloy wheels to highlight its sportier appearance.
The 05 boasts a more luxurious interior that befits its higher price tag. Notable features include powered front seats with an extra four-way lumbar support adjustment for the driver, LED ambient lighting, an extra wireless charging pad, and a 10-speaker Harman Infinity sound system.
OUR THOUGHTS
Now, as we mentioned in the opening paragraph, Lynk & Co is headed for Malaysia too. In keeping with its November 2021 announcement, parent company Geely has confirmed that the Lynk & Co brand will be entering Malaysia as part of its new “Smart Geely 2025” plan. Being the brand’s first right-hand drive market, Malaysia’s debut of Lynk & Co. is sure to welcome a significant turning point for the business.
