Lynk & Co Z10 arrives in store for real shots! Precise knife skills, price is expected to be on par with Xiaomi SU7
The Lynk & Co Z10 can be considered the mass-produced version of the NEXT DAY concept car. The entire body posture is lower and more slender than its sibling models. This might be hard to discern from photos, but standing next to the car makes it clear that the cabin of the Lynk & Co Z10 is notably lower, giving it a proper sedan posture.
Continuing Lynk & Co's consistent design language, the tail of the daytime running lights features a Lynk & Co logo, showcasing the brand's attention to detail in small features.
Here's a small easter egg: the Lynk & Co logo on the Z10 has removed the outer border, making it more concise. Lynk & Co's marketing team should highlight this more; other brands often make a big deal out of even minor changes, like adjusting the rounded corners of logos.
In addition to the iconic Nordic light daytime running lights, the Z10 features a through-type daytime running light strip, with the headlights cleverly hidden inside. Normally, the internal lamp beads light up in a staggered pattern, unless the adjacent beads are illuminated simultaneously in the light language mode. It would be interesting to see if users can choose from multiple custom modes in the future.
The active air intake grille and millimeter-wave radar are seamlessly connected, and the blackened design enhances its sporty look.
The static display car is equipped with air suspension. In the lowest state, the tire is about two fingers away from the wheel arch, which is typical for the original car. The orange calipers, however, might benefit from a color change, as they resemble those of the sibling brand.
While many cars in the same price range have double wishbone suspension, few feature aluminum alloy even on the A-arm. This speaks to Lynk & Co Z10's confidence in its driving quality.
The Z10 does not use the integrated rearview mirror seen on the Lynk & Co 08. Personally, I find this a bit disappointing, as the rearview mirror has a strong sense of technology. Hopefully, it will be available as an option. The high-definition camera for intelligent driving is mounted on the rearview mirror.
The waistline design from the tailgate to the rear is my favorite aspect. It smoothly transitions from rounded to sharp with a single stroke, without feeling abrupt. Combined with the sloping C-pillar, the rear end lines are very powerful.
Compared to the open state of the tail wing, I prefer the closed state, as the original lines of the rear end are stretched and smooth, and the open tail wing disrupts this harmony. However, this is a matter of personal preference.
Lynk & Co Z10 Interior
Because the tasting event was crowded, I couldn't capture a comprehensive picture of the Lynk & Co Z10's interior. However, the overall materials continue Lynk & Co's signature style, with rich details and clear layers. Many media outlets might show the overall interior, but I'd like to share some specific details.
For example, the co-pilot's center console features light strips covered in aluminum alloy, leather, plastic textiles, and piano lacquer.
The buttons on the armrest box have a crystal-like texture. Apart from this, the entire cockpit lacks shiny surfaces, making it low-key, textured, and practical while avoiding scratches and fingerprints.
The ambient lighting is more stylish compared to previous models, with light diffusing from the inside out. The door panels have a fabric-like texture, creating a softer and more upscale diffuse reflection.
The steering wheel and LCD instrument cluster feel like they were pulled straight from a Lotus mold. However, there's a small regret: while the steering wheel can be adjusted forward, backward, up, and down, it's manual. I expected this comfort feature to be power-operated.
The most surprising aspect of the interior is the seat. It's the most comfortable Lynk & Co seat I've ever sat on, softer than the current Lynk & Co 09. When you sit down, there's a clear sense of sinking, as if the first two layers of fabric are like air, with the middle layer gradually building support. The seat massage is also quite powerful, not just the simple inflation and contraction of airbags. According to the on-site staff, the front seats can recline up to 150 degrees, making them nearly flat and suitable for rest during lunch breaks or while charging.
The comfort of the rear seats is no less than that of the front seats. The backrest angle isn't very large and isn't adjustable, but it provides a relaxed sitting posture. The comfort features are also comprehensive, with seat ventilation, heating, and massage.
Intelligence
Intelligence is undoubtedly the most significant change the Lynk & Co Z10 brings to the Lynk & Co brand. Products based on the SPA and CMA architectures struggled to keep up with the mainstream in terms of intelligent cockpits and intelligent driving. However, the SEA platform has no such constraints. Looking across the entire Geely Group, the intelligent configuration of the Lynk & Co Z10 is undoubtedly flagship-level.
The laser radar's specifications are not yet disclosed, but it is equipped with the Orin X intelligent driving chip, boasting a computing power of 254Tops, a mainstream configuration. Referring to other brands using this hardware, their models already achieve city map-free NOA. If Lynk & Co's software is strong, the Z10's intelligent driving capabilities should be impressive.
The cockpit uses the latest solution from Ecarx, with computing power reportedly much higher than Qualcomm 8295. My hands-on experience with this Flyme AUTO-based system shows that it is indeed smooth. Both touch screen execution and voice commands are much faster than the current Lynk & Co 09.
The back of the front seat has a provision for later installing a tablet as an entertainment screen, similar to the current Lynk & Co 07.
At this tasting event, I had the opportunity to communicate with the manufacturer's product team. Some information that wasn't announced at the press conference includes: the Z10's intelligent driving algorithm will gradually transition from high-precision maps to map-free, meaning the Z10 has the potential for large-scale model capabilities on the vehicle side. Regarding battery life, the entry-level model starts at no less than 600km, and its configuration is already very robust.
Compared with the Zeekr 001, the Lynk & Co Z10 is finely tuned, eliminating luxury features that users may not notice, such as electric steering wheel adjustment, rear seat adjustment, electric suction doors, audio power, rear screen, and a full range of lithium iron phosphate brick batteries. It retains Lynk & Co's prized handling performance and all-aluminum alloy suspension system. Based on the configuration, we can roughly estimate that the price of the Lynk & Co Z10 should be in the range of RMB 220,000-280,000, directly competing in price with the Xiaomi SU7.