U Spy Lynk & Co 05 Compact Crossover Coupe In Romania

Lynk & Co vehicles are really exotic sights in Europe with the possible exception of Sweden which hosts the company’s continental headquarters.

Imagine the surprise of CarScoops reader Catalin to see a Lynk & Co test prototype in the city of Sibiu in central Romania. He sent us these photos with the following text: “Today I’ve seen on the streets of Sibiu, Romania an unknown camouflaged model with Swedish number plates and took some pictures.”

While our reader did not know what model he was looking at, we’re pretty sure it was the Lynk & Co 05 compact crossover coupe that recently launched in China. What does it do in Sibiu, of all places?

See Also: Lynk & Co 01 Nabbed In Italy Laden With Cameras And Sensors

Lynk & Co 05 official photo

The only explanation we could find is Lynk & Co is undergoing tests of its infotainment system, which is likely supplied by Germany’s Continental Automotive Systems. The auto parts supplier has a factory in Sibiu that manufactures electronic components for the auto industry and the prototype was probably there to calibrate and test the human-machine interface. Unfortunately, our reader could not take photos of the interior, which would have made things clearer.

How do we know it’s a Lynk & Co 05? Simply by comparing these photos with official imagery of said model from its Chinese launch in December 2019. Dead giveaways include the sloping roofline, shape of the taillights and Swedish plates.

Lynk & Co 05 official photo

It’s unclear whether Lynk & Co will sell the 05 in Europe but in China the model is sold with an electrified 2.0-liter gasoline engine delivering 251 HP (254 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Essentially a “coupe” version of the 01 SUV, the 05 shares the CMA platform with Lynk & Co’s first product and a bunch of other models from Volvo and parent company Geely.

The interior has a new layout compared to the rest of the Lynk & Co lineup, with highlights including a 12.7-inch infotainment screen and two-tone sports seats.

Thanks to Catalin for sharing the photos!