Last week, Lynk & Co , a company belonging to the Chinese conglomerate Zhejiang Geely Holding Group , dazzled the world with its next project, the O03 sedan . This model, whose arrival in the European market is still unknown, along with the products being launched by Volvo , are the spearhead of the future offensive being carried out by the Asian manufacturer.
In this journey toward the future, Geely doesn't want to be left behind, and they are working very hard to achieve this. To that end, and taking advantage of having Volvo 's engineers and designers on staff , they have created a new modular platform called BMA . On this platform, they will design and manufacture a wide range of models, most notably their upcoming launch, the SX11 urban SUV.
One of the most striking features of the Geely SX11 is its well-executed exterior and interior design . The front end is particularly eye-catching, with its meticulously designed headlights and muscular, powerful lines. Inside, if we were blindfolded, we might easily mistake it for a recent Volvo, as the steering wheel , some of the controls, and overall quality (at least visually) are reminiscent of the brand.
The Geely SX11 range boasts a high level of equipment . According to the company, it will feature elements such as a touchscreen infotainment system, integrated navigation , keyless entry and start, automatic climate control, a configurable digital instrument cluster, alloy wheels, fog lights, and heated leather seats.
Using the BMA modular platform , the Geely SX11 reaches a length of 4,33 meters , and also boasts a generous wheelbase of 2,70 meters. Given these dimensions, the SX11 straddles the urban and compact segments , as it would fall into the former category for the Chinese market and the latter for the European market.
Mechanically, the Geely SX11 will initially feature a turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine. This is the new 1.5-liter engine developed by the Asian brand in collaboration with Volvo . It will produce 160 hp and a maximum torque of 255 Nm, managed by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Geely SX11 is expected to arrive in the Chinese market before the end of 2018. The brand has stated that it's a model designed for multiple markets worldwide, so we shouldn't rule out its potential arrival in Europe . In any case, its powertrain options (a hybrid version is expected) and its roadmap are still being finalized. Only time will tell.
Source – Geely
