PH-spec Lynk & Co 06 to get 1.5L PHEV with 299 HP?

United Asia Automotive Group Inc (UAAGI) has been on a roll recently. Not only did they confirm that they are the new official distributor of BAIC in the Philippines, but they will also be handling Geely's premium brand Lynk & Co.

With Chery, Foton, BAIC, and Lynk & Co at their disposal, UAAGI will have a larger presence in the Philippine automotive industry. But what vehicles from the company can we expect to come into the country soon?

We already have a good idea of what BAIC vehicles the automaker could bring which include the X55 II, the BJ80, and the BJ60. As for Lynk & Co, the automaker could initially offer two vehicles – the 06 and the 01. Today, we have received new information regarding one of the possible vehicles that will be arriving soon.

Recently, UAAGI has received regulatory approval for a passenger vehicle with an engine displacement of 1477cc. While it looks like it will simply be a turbocharged vehicle, we noticed that the mystery vehicle has a hefty curb weight of 1979 kg. After doing some research and cross-referencing some numbers, it looks like the mystery vehicle that recently got government approval is the Lynk & Co 06.

Over in international markets, the Lynk & Co 06 is powered by a 1.5-liter (1477cc) turbocharged three-cylinder engine that puts out 177 PS and 265 Nm of torque. If those figures look oddly familiar, that's because the Lynk & Co 06 uses the same platform (and engine) as the Geely Coolray, albeit having a more luxurious exterior & interior. But why the heavier curb weight?

Well, that's because there's also a (more powerful) plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the crossover which is part of the crossover's mid-cycle refresh. It's called the Lynk & Co 06 EM-P PHEV, and it packs quite a powertrain. Unlike the regular 06, the PHEV variant gets a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter engine that's assisted by a pair of electric motors and a 19.1 kWh battery pack. The engine is then connected to a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.

This gives the electrified crossover a whopping 299 PS along with a beefy 568 Nm of torque. Even more impressive is the fact that it has an all-electric range of up to 102 km with a fully charged battery. Last but not least, Lynk & Co claims the PHEV crossover can average 83 km/L based on the NEDC cycle.

With an impressive powertrain under the hood, it looks like UAAGI wants to make an impression with the supposed Lynk & Co 06. And with the 2024 Manila International Auto Show happening in April, the company may already be busy making the necessary preparations. For now, we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that our hunch is right.