2021 Lynk & Co 09 debuts, cheaper Volvo XC90 twin but more luxurious, est. from RM 160k in China?

Lynk & Co has just unveiled its latest flagship SUV, the 2021 Lynk & Co 09. It is a Volvo XC90 dressed in a swankier suit.

Based on the Volvo SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, the Lynk & Co 09 has a commanding footprint. Measuring 5,042 mm in length, 1,977 mm in width, and 1,780 mm in height.

Wheelbase is not announced at the time of writing, but for reference, the XC90 has a wheelbase of 2,984 mm.

The exterior design was inspired by “major metropolis” – a car that matches the lifestyle of urban dwellers.

At the front, the Lynk & Co face is instantly recognisable, but the vertical slats exude road presence unseen in any other Lynk & Co models. There are now pop-out door handles that add a few brownie points in feel-good factor.

Forward illumination is courtesy of 84 individual Matrix LEDs with 4 lighting modes – city, village, highway, and weather. Lynk & Co says no matter the condition, the headlights are able to shine as brightly as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

Where the rear profile of the XC90 is boxy executive-like, the Lynk & Co 09 has a sportier touch. The sloping C pillars give a sharper silhouette while the horizontally laid out taillamps show off the SUV's width.

Inside, it is decked out with the latest gadgetry, some not even found in a Volvo. The controls on the steering wheel, infotainment screen, and climate control are now touch-sensitive because it’s more “premium” that way.

A 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 6-inch LCD climate control panel controlled by 2 1.4-inch display rotary knobs make up the clean-looking centre stack.

Lynk & Co has taken Volvo’s Start/Stop knob and drive mode selector switch but we're unsure whether it has the same diamond-cut finish.

Other bells and whistles in the Lynk & Co 09 include a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster, 12.8-inch colour heads-up display, augmented reality navigation, Monaco Nappa leather upholstery, OTA update enabled, in-car fragrance, and L2 ADAS.

An interesting fact about the SPA platform is that the speaker placement and integration were engineered into the chassis itself with the help of Bowers & Wilkins.

While the Lynk & Co 09 will benefit from this development, but we don’t see that the 14-speaker BOSE sound system can ever match the audio quality of the 19-speaker B&W set up.

Unlike the XC90 7-seater (2+3+2), the Lynk & Co is a 6-seater SUV with a 2+2+2 configuration. The middle row is 2 captain seats which is a more popular preference in China.

Powertrain options for the Lynk & Co 09 are not announced yet but it is likely to be offered with the 2.0-litre turbo + 8-speed auto combo as other Lynk & Co models. Volvo’s T8 PHEV system (407 PS/640 Nm) could also find its way here.

Chinese media are speculating that the Lynk & Co 09 will have an estimated starting price of RMB 250,000 (RM 160k). Market launch is expected to happen in the coming months.