Lynk & Co, the second model arrives: it is called 02 and it is electric

Lynk & Co was the first to introduce the 'pay per use' concept to the Italian market: in addition to the possibility of purchase, it offers a monthly subscription whose price includes insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance, with no down payment and simple activation and cancellation. The offer, however, is currently limited to the 01 model, a full optional plug-in hybrid SUV that cannot, on its own, meet the needs of all users. So the manufacturer has decided to expand its offer with the introduction of the five-door coupe 02, its first 100% electric vehicle, already marketed in China as the Z20.

Lynk & Co is part of the Chinese galaxy of the Geely group (which controls Volvo) and can, in fact, take advantage of Volvo's European research and development centre in Gothenburg. Hence the design, which both externally and especially internally is very reminiscent of that of the Swedish manufacturer.

The new coupé is 4.5 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and 1.6 metres high, with a wheelbase of 2.7 metres. The lines at the front are elegant but somewhat anonymous, distinguished by LED light clusters that draw a singular light signature but only have the function of position lights, while the more powerful ones are positioned rather low down. Decidedly more original are the lines of the rear, which see the light clusters completely integrated into the rear spoiler positioned at mid-height: at first glance they appear to be missing. This stylistic choice, however, reduces the size of the rear window, which also has a certain slant, limiting the rear view while driving.

The 02 uses a rear-mounted 272 horsepower (200 kW) electric motor, just as rear-mounted is the type of drive chosen by the Chinese manufacturer. The 66 kWh (gross) batteries give it a range of up to 445 km and support 150 kW DC charging, so that it can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. Alternating current charging, on the other hand, supports 11 or 22 kW depending on the version. In terms of performance, despite a weight of almost 2.3 tonnes, it reaches 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, while the top speed is limited to 180 km/h. The rear-wheel drive and electric motor make driving extremely smooth and quiet, even though major acceleration is possible when necessary thanks to the 343 Nm of torque available.

Inside, the materials and minimalist design are very reminiscent of Volvo's (with all the erogonomic limitations). In the centre of the dashboard is a large 15-inch display, while in front of the driver is a second elongated and narrow 10-inch screen. Unfortunately, there are no physical buttons other than the multifunctional ones on the steering wheel, so that even the airflow is controlled via the screen and this becomes a problem while driving, as is the case with Volvo and Polestar.