What Transmission Does the Lynk & Co 01 Use?
4 Answers
The Lynk & Co 01 uses a transmission from Aisin. Established in 1969, Aisin is a world-renowned professional developer and manufacturer of automotive automatic transmissions. In the field of automotive automatic transmissions, Aisin's products hold the highest market share globally. The two-wheel-drive models of the Lynk & Co 01 are equipped with Aisin's 6AT automatic manual transmission, while the four-wheel-drive models feature a 7DCT dual-clutch transmission. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, also known as a 7DCT, utilizes a wet clutch. The wet dual-clutch transmission is characterized by two multi-plate clutches of different sizes, installed coaxially within a sealed oil chamber filled with hydraulic fluid. This design allows for better regulation and higher thermal tolerance, enabling the transmission to handle greater torque. When using the Lynk & Co 01's transmission in daily driving, it is important to observe the following precautions: Do not delay changing the transmission oil for extended periods. Prolonged use without oil changes can damage internal components such as bearings and the transmission housing. Avoid coasting in neutral for long durations. While many experienced drivers may coast in neutral with manual transmissions, doing so with an automatic transmission can cause overheating and create a jolt when shifting back into Drive (D). Never shift into Drive (D) or Reverse (R) before the vehicle has come to a complete stop. Some drivers may attempt to shift into reverse while the vehicle is still moving to demonstrate smooth operation, but this can severely damage the transmission gears, potentially leading to gear grinding and other malfunctions over time. Do not frequently climb steep slopes in Drive (D). Automatic vehicles may overheat under high loads or shift too early, resulting in insufficient power for climbing. In such cases, use manual mode to lock in a lower gear or switch to sport mode to protect the transmission. Avoid long-distance towing. If the automatic vehicle breaks down, use a flatbed tow truck to transport it with the transmission in Neutral (N). Do not use tow ropes or attempt to tow the vehicle directly, as this can cause damage.
I've been driving the Lynk & Co 01 for several years, and it has used several different transmissions. The earliest 2017 gasoline models were mostly equipped with Aisin's 6AT, which offers smooth shifting and mature technology, with affordable oil changes, though there's occasional minor jerking at low speeds. Later, it switched to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) jointly developed by Geely and Volvo, which provides faster gear shifts and better fuel efficiency, making city driving noticeably more agile. The plug-in hybrid version is even more impressive, featuring Geely's self-developed 3-speed hybrid-specific transmission (DHT Pro), where gear shifts are almost imperceptible during electric motor direct drive, delivering a smooth, EV-like experience. The choice depends on your specific model year and powertrain configuration—I recommend checking the vehicle manual or entering the VIN for details.
The Lynk & Co 01's transmission configuration follows a clear timeline. The first-generation models all used traditional 6AT transmissions, while later high-volume fuel versions switched to 7DCT wet dual-clutch transmissions, achieving good cost control with around 87% transmission efficiency. The hybrid version directly adopted cutting-edge technology—the 3-speed DHT Pro transmission, which intelligently switches between three drive modes for the motor and engine. Interestingly, this system features two clutches to ensure smooth transitions between pure electric and hybrid modes. Although there were durability concerns about dual-clutch transmissions in the past two years, the manufacturer's calibration is relatively conservative, and the transmission oil temperature is well controlled during daily stop-and-go traffic conditions.
During the test drive, I specifically focused on the transmission performance. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission in the standard 01 model is tuned for family use, with almost no noticeable jerking during 1-2 gear shifts in traffic jams – a huge improvement over earlier domestic dual-clutch transmissions. The 3-speed DHT in the hybrid model is even more interesting: the dashboard displays which gear is being used when the engine engages, and a hard press on the accelerator can trigger a two-gear downshift for overtaking. The salesperson mentioned the hybrid transmission features pre-shift functionality, automatically maintaining lower gears when the navigation predicts a downhill ahead. As for drawbacks, the dual-clutch shifting noise is more noticeable than AT transmissions during aggressive driving.
