The LYNK & CO 03 is the maiden sedan and flagship performance icon introduced in 2018 by LYNK & CO, a premium brand established as a joint venture between Geely Auto Group and Volvo Cars. Built on the world-class Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), this C-segment sports sedan is not only a milestone offering that pioneered a comprehensive modern car culture and domestic performance ecosystem among Chinese marques, but has also elevated the global engineering reputation of Chinese sports sedans through its back-to-back championship wins in the WTCR (World Touring Car Cup). The model line-up has since expanded into a multi-tiered performance stable comprising the 1.5TD, 2.0TD (T5/T6), 03+ series, Racing series, and the range-topping TCR track-ready edition, with official retail pricing spanning from RM121,800 to RM420,300.
At its core, the LYNK & CO 03 is engineered as an "urban hot hatch paying homage to pure motorsport DNA". While dimensionally sitting in the A+/C-segment sedan bracket, its chassis architecture and aerodynamic profile are heavily biased towards track-honed dynamics. The model directly takes on established sports benchmarks such as the Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf GTI, and Hyundai Elantra N.
Visually, the vehicle embraces a wide-body, low-slung "Wind-Hunting" design language, highlighted by Aurora Borealis LED daytime running lights, a fighter-jet-inspired air-blade front grille, and 3D Energy Crystal full-width taillights. Key selling points include a potent powertrain producing up to 350 PS, a precision-tuned chassis featuring front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent suspension across the range, the fully integrated LYNK Flyme Auto smart cockpit, as well as track-optimised launch control and race-spec brake kits on the TCR variants—firmly cementing its authority in the performance enthusiast sphere.
Grassroots Motorsport and Market Breakthrough (2018–2020): In October 2018, the LYNK & CO 03 sedan flagship was officially launched globally at the Fuji Speedway in Japan, following the LYNK & CO 01. In 2019, China's first bona fide mass-produced performance vehicle, the LYNK & CO 03+, arrived on the scene. Powered by a 2.0T T5 powerplant paired with an Aisin 8-speed automatic gearbox and BorgWarner all-wheel drive, it broke the longstanding dominance of foreign hot hatches in the RM150,000 to RM250,000 segment.
Motorsport Triumphs and Full-Scale Generational Overhauls (2021–2024): Cyan Racing LYNK & CO drove 03-based race machines to consecutive WTCR championship titles, marking a historic achievement for Chinese automotive engineering on the world stage. Leveraging this motorsport heritage, the second- and third-generation LYNK & CO 03 line-ups underwent a major transformation, featuring a redesigned wide-body front fascia and revised axle kinematics, alongside the introduction of the new 03+ series with power ratings boosted to 265 PS and 300 PS.
High-Performance Racing Debut and Smart Cockpit Evolution (2025–2026): In its latest lifecycle, the range has consolidated its appeal to both track enthusiasts and tech-savvy drivers. The updated 2026 LYNK & CO 03 family and 03+ series debuted with an accessible entry price starting from RM121,800. The facelifted model gains an exclusive metallic "03" badge on the front grille and a fully upgraded LYNK Flyme Auto smart cockpit driven by the DragonHawk-1 automotive computing chip. Meanwhile, the 350 PS 03+ Racing edition and the track-honed 03+ TCR edition (priced at RM420,300) continue to push boundaries as the brand's pinnacle halo models.
The LYNK & CO 03 commands a distinct "brand premium" and strong customer pull within the C-segment sedan space. Domestically, the standard 1.5TD and 2.0TD variants attract young urban professionals seeking an alternative to mundane run-of-the-mill family sedans, while the 03+ and Racing series have built a dedicated following among driving purists, gymkhana participants, and track-day regulars. Globally, boosted by its WTCR pedigree, export variants of the LYNK & CO 03 across Europe, the Middle East, and selected Asia-Pacific right-hand-drive (RHD) markets have emerged as credible Chinese contenders capable of going toe-to-toe with traditional European and Japanese hot hatches in driving dynamics.
The LYNK & CO 03 range harnesses the cutting-edge engineering prowess of Geely, Volvo, and Cyan Racing across high-performance powertrains, advanced braking hardware, and seamless smartphone-to-vehicle connectivity:
Dimensions and Driver-Centric Cockpit: The standard sedan measures 4,700 mm in length, 1,843 mm in width, and 1,460 mm in height, with a 2,730 mm wheelbase. The cabin comes standard with heavily bolstered, one-piece front sports bucket seats. A digital instrument cluster is paired with a 15.4-inch 2.5K ultra-slim infotainment touchscreen (featuring ultra-thin bezels and anti-glare coating) on a motorsport-inspired dashboard layout. The 03+ and higher-spec variants add race-inspired six-point harness detailing and a three-way adjustable carbon-fibre rear spoiler (configurable to 0°, 8°, or 16° angles of attack).
Comprehensive Powertrain Line-up:
Daily Drivers (1.5TD / 2.0TD): The 1.5TD four-cylinder turbo engine delivers 181 PS, paired with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT); the 2.0TD standard model (Ultra, etc.) is powered by the Volvo-derived T5 unit churning out 272 PS and 400 Nm of torque, mated to an Aisin 8-speed automatic gearbox to achieve a 0–100 km/h sprint in just 6.5 seconds.
Performance Flagships (03+ / Racing / TCR): The 03+ variants deliver 309 PS and 420 Nm of torque, dropping the century sprint time to 5.41 seconds. Meanwhile, the range-topping Racing and TCR variants extract an astounding 350 PS and 450 Nm of peak torque from their 2.0T twin-charged (turbocharged + supercharged) powertrain.
Track-Tuned Dynamics and 6th-Gen AWD: The performance-oriented 03+ series is equipped with a BorgWarner sixth-generation intelligent all-wheel-drive system, capable of achieving an optimal 50:50 torque split between the front and rear axles. Higher-spec variants boast Japanese Akebono opposed four-piston front brake calipers clamped onto oversized ventilated/drilled brake discs, delivering an exceptional 100–0 km/h emergency braking distance of just 33.5 metres.
LYNK Flyme Auto Smart Ecosystem: Powered by proprietary dual DragonHawk-1 chipsets (offering up to 8 TOPS of NPU computing performance), the cabin runs the LYNK Flyme Auto infotainment OS with customisable desktop layouts, Smart Bar quick-access controls, and multi-window split-screen functionality. It also offers seamless wireless screen mirroring via Meizu Flyme Link, along with integrated AutoNavi 810 navigation featuring lane-level visual guidance and real-time traffic signal countdowns. Audiophiles are treated to a flagship 14-speaker Lynk Sound immersive audio setup rated at 1,000 W.
In response to the industry-wide shift towards advanced vehicle intelligence and electrified powertrain architectures, the future roadmap for the LYNK & CO 03 will focus on: deepening the integration between the Flyme Auto ecosystem and AI-powered voice assistants with large language models, ensuring this track-bred machine is backed by cutting-edge smarts; advancing LYNK & CO's global footprint by leveraging its motorsport pedigree to accelerate the introduction of sports and electrified variants into right-hand-drive (RHD) markets and European territories; and continually expanding OEM performance upgrade components via the Lynk & Co Performance Car Club (LPCC) and its tuning ecosystem, reinforcing its benchmark status as China's premier sports sedan brand.
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