The heavily-disguised SUV-coupe snapped here undergoing shakedown tests in Germany and identified as a prototype from the Geely-owned Chinese company Lynk & Co opens up intriguing possibilities.
Billed as a serious rival for Tesla, the Lynk & Co brand numbers stablemates including Volvo and British sports car specialist Lotus, lending it a broad skill set capable of embracing a wide range of vehicle types.
The technology-focussed company introduced the 01 Crossover in China in 2017, with other markets targeted for future production by Volvo in Belgium. Two other models are lining up: The 02 crossover and the 03 sedan, which is smaller than the 01.
The spy photos depict what appears to be a fastback version of the 01 model, in the bespoke BMW X4 style. If this new model is indeed based on the 01, it will be sharing the same Volvo-designed CMA platform that also underpins that company's XC40 SUV – the 2018 carsales Car of the Year.
Significantly, although Lynk & Co's EV plans are well known, the platform has been designed for more conventional, fossil-fuelled vehicles, which could include the widely-anticipated Lotus SUV.
The fact that both right and left-hand drive figure in Lynk & Co's design capabilities has ramifications for Australia too...