Lynk & Co. is making another statement with the launch of its latest vehicle, the eponymously named 02 crossover. Unveiled in Amsterdam, the 02 — it’s pronounced as “zero-two” — is the latest creation from the off-the-cuff sub-brand that Chinese automaker Geely created in 2016. Despite its name, the 02 is actually the third model to come out of Lynk & Co., following in the footsteps already laid by the 01 SUV and the 03 saloon. The compact crossover is expected to spearhead the automaker’s plan to ingratiate itself to a younger market that embraces a “shareable and ultra-connected” lifestyle with plans to offer the model online or through a subscription service.

Forget about what you know about the auto industry because Lynk & Co. isn’t interested in shaping itself to fit into the establishment. It’s much more interested in shaking things up and, for what it’s worth, it could be well on its way to doing just that.

First, the details. The 02 is smaller than the 01. Link & Co. intended it to be that way to create some distinction between the two models. It sits on a shorter wheelbase and has a lower ride height. The design, however, is largely similar to the 03. The front end looks the same, though by virtue of its smaller size, the 02 benefits from more muscular wheel arches, giving it a more compact and confident stance. We lauded the automaker for its design of the 01 and 03. It’s good to know that the 02 didn’t fall too far out of the same tree.

The interior of the crossover also blends premium design with state-of-the-art technology, the latter of which we’ll get to in a bit. The cabin should get its share of premium materials, joining the large central touchscreen display and advanced telematics systems as its defining features.

There are no details on performance, but don’t be surprised if it uses the same powertrains that can be found on Volvo models, including the new 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine found under the hood of the XC40. That’s not a certainty at the moment, but it’s likely that both Lynk & Co. and Volvo will be sharing powertrains that will come in different states of tune, hybrid optimization, and electrification. On that end, the company’s senior VP, Alain Visser, made it clear at the car’s launch that the 02 will not have any diesel or ICE-only options in Europe. It’s all hybrids and electrics for this crossover.

Now, about those tech features. The Lynk & Co. 02 is dripping with them. That’s all part of the company’s plan to turn the crossover into a connected and sharable car. It has the world’s first in-car sharing button, which allows people to have shared ownership or subscriptions of the car, all with the use of a smartphone app. That’s the world the company envisions the 02 to live in. It’s not so much about buying the car from a traditional dealership and taking it home. It’s more about giving the crossover a platform where it can be purchased online and paid for under the guise of monthly subscription fees that are not all that different from how we pay off our mobile phone service providers.

Link & Co’s sales strategy also does not include brick-and-mortar dealerships. That’s too old-school for the company. Instead, the automaker plans to open boutique shops that prospective buyers can go to place orders for the car or sign up for a subscription service. The first of these urban “brand boutiques” will open in Amsterdam, though Lynk & Co. does have plans of having at least one of them in all relevant European cities.

If subscription-based ownership turns into a real thing in the auto industry, Lynk & Co is going to be at the forefront of that change. That’s good to know considering the backing it has from a Chinese automaker that has thrived in today’s automotive industry.

References

Read more about the Lynk & Co 01.