The Lynk & Co 09 is the brand's flagship SUV—dubbed a "first-class cabin on wheels"—co-developed by Geely Auto Group and Volvo Cars on the world-class Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) modular platform shared with the Volvo XC90. As the absolute pinnacle of Lynk & Co’s portfolio, the 09 shattered the conventional notion that Chinese marques could not secure a foothold in the RM250,000 to RM350,000 executive luxury SUV segment. It seamlessly marries Volvo’s class-leading safety architecture and premium driving dynamics with Lynk & Co’s proprietary new energy powertrains and tech-forward smart cabin ecosystem. The range currently adopts a dual-track line-up: the high-value 2026 Lynk & Co 09 MHEV AWD Explorer Edition (mild-hybrid petrol, with limited-time promotional pricing from RM198,800), and the performance-oriented, range-anxiety-free Lynk & Co 09 EM-P plug-in hybrid series.
At its core, the Lynk & Co 09 is built on a philosophy of "uncompromising domestic luxury without brand mark-ups or feature de-contenting". Classified as an executive mid-to-large luxury SUV, its overall length breaks the 5-metre threshold at 5,042 mm. In development and market positioning, the 09 punches well above its weight with a disruptive cross-segment strategy—leveraging a hardcore SPA chassis and permanent all-wheel-drive setup on par with or even outclassing the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5, whilst pricing itself directly against mainstream family rivals like the Li Auto L7/L8, Toyota Highlander, and Volkswagen Teramont, delivering true democratisation of high-end mechanical engineering.
Visually, the SUV commands an imposing flagship presence. Up front sits an "Urban Coast" dual-wave 3D vertical grille with 12 gloss-black chrome slats, flanked by Matrix LED headlamps and complemented by floating 3D sculpted "Energy Crystal" full-width LED tail lights at the rear. Key highlights centre on its SPA chassis (front double-wishbone and rear integral-link independent suspension with 48% aluminium components), standard BorgWarner permanent all-wheel-drive system across the range, an integrated power Queen Ottoman leg rest for the front passenger, and four individual seats equipped with ventilation, heating, and 8-point massage functions—effectively turning this dual-powertrain luxury executive cruiser into an all-terrain lounge on wheels.
Flagship Debut and Architecture Milestone (2021–2023): In October 2021, the Lynk & Co 09 officially rolled off the line at the Meishan plant in Ningbo and made its market debut. As Geely's first production model built on the native SPA luxury platform, it immediately raised the benchmark for domestic vehicle dynamics with its comprehensive all-aluminium suspension and stellar active/passive underride crash protection, swiftly followed by high-performance plug-in hybrid variants (PHEV / Long Range Edition).
EM-P Evolution and 6-Seater Luxury Democratisation (2024): To capitalise on the booming multi-seat family NEV market, the brand launched the refreshed Lynk & Co 09 EM-P. This update brought substantial upgrades to first- and second-row seating comfort, introducing a dedicated front passenger entertainment screen and second-row sunken transverse-sliding captain chairs, while upgrading the electrified powertrain to a 2.0T hybrid-dedicated engine paired with a 3-speed tri-motor (P1+P2+P3) DHT Pro dedicated hybrid transmission, pushing total system output to an impressive 555 PS.
Large 5-Seater Petrol Counter-offensive (2025–2026): In its latest cycle, Lynk & Co delivered a formidable two-pronged petrol-and-electrified offensive. With the 2026 Lynk & Co 09 AWD Explorer Edition (offered in Ultra and Max variants), strategic focus pivoted towards the high-utility, sporty 5-seater petrol market. Alongside bespoke exterior shades like "Mountain Green" and "Midnight Purple" and 20-inch alloy wheels, aggressive price restructuring brought official recommended retail pricing down to RM238,800 - RM248,800 (with limited-time promotional pricing dipping to RM198,800 - RM208,800). This firmly established a benchmark in the RM200,000 petrol class with a "fully loaded from base trim, standard permanent AWD" proposition.
The Lynk & Co 09 demonstrates a dual-target conquest strategy in the market: the EM-P electrified series targets urban professionals, middle-class multi-child families, and tech-savvy buyers requiring efficient cross-country road trip and daily commuting capability, capturing market share from EV start-ups with fuel consumption as low as 1.0L/100km (around 6.0L/100km with a depleted battery), long combined range, and the front Queen seat. Meanwhile, the 2026 petrol AWD Explorer 5-seater appeals directly to purists who value premium European mechanical hardware, resist screen-dominated cabins, and enjoy extensive overland adventures, as well as B/C-segment SUV owners looking to upgrade to a higher class.
The Lynk & Co 09 inherits the most robust, comprehensive, and premium hardware and safety engineering available from Geely Auto Group and Volvo:
Native SPA Luxury Chassis: Measuring 5,042 mm long, 1,977 mm wide, and 1,780 mm tall, with a generous 2,984 mm wheelbase, the platform's standout strength lies in its extensive chassis hardware—aluminium alloy components account for 48% of the suspension assembly. Up front is a double-wishbone independent setup typical of high-end luxury marques, paired with an integral-link rear independent suspension featuring high-rigidity composite transverse leaf springs, delivering exceptional roll control and supple bump absorption.
Proven Powertrain and Permanent AWD (2026 AWD Explorer Edition): The mild-hybrid petrol line-up comes standard with a Drive-E 2.0TD T5 turbocharged petrol engine mated to a 48V BSG mild-hybrid system, generating 187 kW (254 PS) and 350 Nm of torque. Power is channelled through an Aisin 8-speed automatic transmission (8AT) and a BorgWarner intelligent full-time all-wheel-drive system (featuring an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch centre differential), offering five drive modes—Comfort, Eco, Sport, Off-Road, and Snow—with a 0–100 km/h sprint in the 8-second bracket.
First-Class Cabin Comfort and Versatile Packaging:
Executive Second Row: The 2026 5-seater variant boasts a class-leading 1,366 mm wide rear bench with generous 540 mm seat cushion depth (avoiding truncated cushions used to artificially inflate legroom) and up to 1,130 mm of maximum rear legroom. Upholstered in premium full-grain Nappa leather throughout, the 3-stage heating, ventilation, and 8-point massage functions previously reserved for the front are now extended across all four outboard seats.
Mobile Double Bed: The front passenger seat gains a 280 mm integrated 4-way powered Ottoman leg rest (Queen Seat). Reclining the front seatbacks creates a dual-sofa lounge with the second row, while folding the rear bench fully flat expands boot capacity from a standard 691 litres to 1,522 litres, forming a flat two-metre luxury sleeping bay.
Lynk OS N and Premium Sensory Appointments: The digital cockpit features a multi-screen array comprising a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch floating HD central infotainment touchscreen, a 6-inch climate control panel, and a 12.8-inch full-colour windshield head-up display (W-HUD). Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset with 16GB RAM, it runs the latest Lynk OS N operating system with four-zone intelligent voice control. Additional appointments include a 14-speaker bespoke BOSE premium sound system with active noise cancellation (ANC), an Ocean Secret cabin fragrance system, quad-zone automatic climate control, acoustic privacy double-glazed windows, and manual rear side sunshades.
Comprehensive Active & Passive Safety Shield: Built to Volvo's benchmark safety standards, the body structure incorporates an ultra-high proportion of hot-formed boron steel to form an ultra-rigid safety cage. Standard across the range is a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) comprising 5 millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and 5 cameras, alongside native full-scenario rollover protection and integrated active/passive underride prevention technology (mitigating rear-end collisions with heavy commercial vehicles). Interior cabin materials strictly comply with triple-"0" infant-grade eco-health standards.
As Lynk & Co rolls out its second-generation high-efficiency new energy powertrains and full-stack in-house autonomous driving suite in 2026, subsequent updates for the Lynk & Co 09 line-up will follow two clear trajectories: on one front, the premium EM-P plug-in hybrid series will receive continuous technological upgrades centred on multi-speed DHT hybrid logic, OTA AI-driven infotainment, and seamless smartphone-to-vehicle integration (deeply integrating Flyme Auto and cross-platform protocols) to cement its stronghold in the executive multi-seat NEV segment; on the other front, the value-driven "executive mid-to-large 5-seater petrol / accessible luxury" formula pioneered by the 2026 model will serve as the benchmark for Chinese internal combustion flagships, continuing to hold unique appeal among long-distance overland tourers and traditional mechanical driving enthusiasts.
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