The 2026 Lynk & Co 08 EM-P makes a compelling pitch: Volvo-derived engineering at Geely-level pricing. It’s a mid-size plug-in-hybrid SUV from Geely’s Lynk & Co brand — sister to Zeekr — built on the CMA Evo platform shared with the Volvo XC40 and Polestar 2. The powertrain is potent: a 1.5T engine plus electric motor for a combined 402 hp (300 kW) and 615 Nm, with a big plug-in battery delivering long electric range and a combined range up to ~1,400 km. Crucially it’s offered in front-wheel-drive and a 4WD performance form, the latter hitting 0–100 km/h in around 4.6 seconds. It packs a roof LiDAR with NVIDIA Orin ADAS, a 15.4-inch screen, and a near-EV experience — from roughly $31,000 for the 4WD the reviewer drove. As he puts it, this is “a maximally underrated car.”
Performance & Powertrain
The 08 EM-P uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (120 kW / 161 hp) working through a 3-speed DHT alongside an electric motor making 180 kW (241 hp). The standard front-drive setup gives a combined 300 kW (402 hp) and 615 Nm; the top 210 4WD Performance Ultra H7 adds a rear motor for 336 kW total and a 4.6-second 0–100 km/h. It’s a plug-in hybrid that behaves much like an EV around town: the battery options are a 28.3 kWh pack (about 160 km CLTC) and a larger 38.2 kWh pack (up to ~230 km CLTC, depending on trim/source), with a combined range reaching roughly 1,300–1,400 km and fuel use around 4.5 L/100 km on a depleted battery. The reviewer notes the 4WD car rides on 255/45 R20 tires with 205 mm ground clearance, while front-drive trims get 19-inch wheels. Unusually for a PHEV, it even supports DC fast-charging.
| Engine | 1.5T, 120 kW (161 hp) |
|---|---|
| Electric motor | 180 kW (241 hp) |
| System power | 300 kW (402 hp) / 615 Nm |
| 4WD Performance | 336 kW, 0–100 ~4.6 s |
| Battery | 28.3 / 38.2 kWh |
| EV range (CLTC) | ~160 / up to ~230 km |
| Combined range | up to ~1,400 km |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Plug-in hybrid (PHEV), FWD / 4WD |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1.5T, 120 kW (161 hp), 3-speed DHT |
| ELECTRIC MOTOR | 180 kW (241 hp) |
| SYSTEM POWER | 300 kW (402 hp) / 615 Nm; 336 kW (4WD) |
| BATTERY | 28.3 kWh / 38.2 kWh |
| EV RANGE (CLTC) | ~160 / up to ~230 km |
| COMBINED RANGE | up to ~1,400 km |
| 0–100 KM/H | ~4.6 s (4WD Performance) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,825 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,915 mm |
| Height | 1,660 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,848 mm |
| Cargo | 545 L / 1,277 L folded |
| Ground clearance | ~205 mm |
At 4,825 mm long on a 2,848 mm wheelbase, the 08 EM-P is a roomy mid-size SUV that the reviewer says is “ideally suited to city use.” It seats five, with a 545-litre boot expanding to 1,277 litres with the rear seats folded, and around 205 mm of ground clearance. The 4WD Performance trim rides on 20-inch wheels (255/45 R20), front-drive trims on 19s. Inside, the cabin leans premium — quilted tan-and-black leather, heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic feel and the big central display — making good on the “Volvo tech, Geely price” promise. The design borrows from the Lynk/Zeekr family, with split headlights and matrix LED optics on dearer trims.
| LENGTH | 4,825 mm (190.0 in) |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,915 mm (75.4 in) |
| HEIGHT | 1,660 mm (65.4 in) |
| WHEELBASE | 2,848 mm (112.1 in) |
| CARGO | 545 L / 1,277 L folded |
| SEATING | 5 |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | BATTERY | EV RANGE | DRIVE | PRICE (CHINA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160 Long Range Max | 402 hp | 38.2 kWh | ~160 km | FWD | ¥158,800 (~$22,300) |
| 230 Long Range Max | 402 hp | 38.2 kWh | ~230 km | FWD | ¥169,800 (~$23,800) |
| 160 Long Range Ultra | 402 hp | 38.2 kWh | ~160 km | FWD | ¥175,800 (~$24,700) |
| 230 Ultra Long Range | 402 hp | 38.2 kWh | ~230 km | FWD | ¥186,800 (~$26,200) |
| 210 4WD Performance Ultra H7 | 336 kW (4WD) | 38.2 kWh | ~170 km | AWD | ¥209,800 (~$31,000) |
Note: EV-range and price figures vary slightly between sources as Lynk & Co adjusts trims and runs launch discounts — confirm the exact spec at order. A lower-cost 28.3 kWh / ~160 km entry pack has also been offered earlier in the model run.
How It Compares
Verdict
- 402 hp and a 4.6s 0-100 (4WD) — genuinely quick
- Volvo-derived CMA Evo platform at Geely pricing
- Long EV range (up to ~230 km) + ~1,400 km combined
- Roof LiDAR + NVIDIA Orin ADAS — rare at this price
- DC fast-charging — behaves like an EV day-to-day
- Premium cabin, 15.4″ screen, FWD or 4WD choice; from ~$22-31k
- EV-range/price figures vary by source and trim — verify at order
- Five seats only — no 6/7-seat option
- 3-speed DHT can feel busy vs a single-speed EV
- CLTC range is optimistic vs real-world / WLTP
- Lynk & Co brand awareness still low outside China
- Crowded Chinese PHEV-SUV segment (BYD, Geely, others)
The 08 EM-P is exactly the kind of car that explains why Chinese PHEVs are so hard to ignore. It takes a Volvo-derived CMA Evo platform, adds 402 hp, up to ~230 km of electric range and ~1,400 km combined, a roof-LiDAR NVIDIA Orin driver-assist suite, DC fast-charging and a genuinely premium cabin — then prices it from around $22,000, or about $31,000 for the quick 4WD performance version. The reviewer’s “maximally underrated” line feels fair: it’s less famous than a BYD Tang but arguably more sophisticated, and it undercuts its Volvo/Polestar relatives by roughly half. The trim-to-trim spec variation is mildly confusing and the brand is still building recognition, but as a tech-rich, fast, long-range plug-in family SUV for the money, the Lynk & Co 08 EM-P is one of the best-value PHEVs on sale.
