Lynk & Co 03 sedan: first official pictures released

The first official pictures of the Lynk & Co 03 sedan have been released before it reaches showrooms. The sedan is the creation of the new brand created by Chinese automaker Geely in 2016. Lynk & Co's four-door model will initially be focused on its home market but may have plans to reach Europe, later.

Like its siblings, the 03 will be available with either pure combustion or electrified powertrains. The The 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol units are expected to launch first, later followed by a plug-in hybrid version with a 64km pure-electric range.

Lynk & Co’s models are known to feature highly connected technology. The 03 is expected to follow suit with large touchscreens with internet connectivity. The 03 may also get the same share button  introduced in the 01, which gives other people access to the car with a temporary digital key sent to their smartphone.

The car is built on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform co-developed with Volvo. It is is also used by Volvo’s XC40 (the two brands are owned by automotive giant Geely) and will underpin the Swedish carmaker's first all-electric model that is due in 2019. So an electric version of the 03 is also a possibility, but it is likely to arrive at the start of the next decade.

The photographed 03 sedan is dressed in heavy camouflage but the design clearly links to its predecessors – the 01 and 02. The car has a traditional four-door sedan bodyshape, which is in high demand in China – the world’s largest new car market.

Despite Lynk & Co still being at its infancy, it has already received heavy demand for its models. When the 01 went on sale last year, Lynk & Co said it received 6,000 orders in 137sec, setting a new world record for the fastest-selling car.

When the new car goes on sale, the 03 will either be offered for purchase or acquired via a contract. Unlike PCP deals, Lynk & Co’s contracts are short-term, like those used to purchase smartphones. Most of the car’s sales are expected to come from this type of deal.