My FH5 Log: Lynk-ed Horizon

A long time ago, Forza Horizon 5 introduced us to the world of Lynk & Co. with the 03+ saloon and its TCR equivalent, proving that the Chinese invasion of the world of Forza is far from over.

Now, two new additions to the roster are further proving my point. What are these Lynk & Co. models joining the FH5 Chinese fleet? Let's find out.

You're looking at the Lynk & Co. 05+ from the game's Chinese Stars Car Pack and the 02 Hatchback that was obtained by hitting 20 points at the Lunar New Year Storm Season Playlist. Before taking a crack at these two fresh additions from Beijing, let's get to know them.

Unveiled in late 2019, the Lynk & Co. 05 is basically the coupe-crossover version of the 01 that runs on the same CMA platform as its 01 equivalent. At launch, it was powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid powertrain mated to an 8-speed AT, followed by two 1.5L 3-cylinder petrol engines with the other being PHEV.

The + variant is the high-performance version of the 05 which uses the same 2.0 4-cylinder engine from the normal model but it's been boosted to produce 265hp and 380Nm of torque while mated to an Aisin 8-speed AT with paddle shifters and 4WD, giving it a top speed of 230kph.

First launched in 2018, the Lynk & Co. 02 crossover is the brand's third offering after the 01 SUV and the 03 sedan. Like most of its equivalents, it runs on the same CMA platform and it was offered with a choice of three different 1.5T configurations and a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, mated to either a 6-speed manual, a 7-speed DCT, or an 8-speed AT, depending on the variant. Three years later, the lower and city-oriented Hatchback version was added and it comes with a more powerful 2.0L engine with 254hp of power while mated only with an 8-speed AT.

Having gotten to know about these two, it's time to take them around the festival to which one stands out. Will it be the front-wheel-drive hatchback version of the 02 crossover or the 4WD high-performance version of the 05 coupe crossover? Only one way to find out...

And now the results...

05+ - 1m29.423s

02 HB - 1m26.003s

What a no-brainer. The front-wheel-drive 02 hatchback trumped the 4WD 05+ by nearly three seconds. That's common sense to you.

The arrival of the two new Lynk & Co. models in the world of Forza, the 02 and the 05, is undeniably proof that the Chinese invasion is far from over and we are absolutely right all along. Blame the producers for kowtowing to Beijing for such cars like these. Whatever the reason, it's hard to find such fun activities with Chinese cars we don't know from the start.

As always, enjoy your new rides.

My FH5 Log: WTF? WTCR?

Remember the Lynk & Co 03 that we obtained from the Horizon Road Trip a while back? Guess what? Its racing car version has arrived as a prize car from the Forza Horizon 5 Donut Media collaboration Wet Season Playlist. Having familiarized myself with the road car, it's time to get to know the racing version of the Lynk & Co 03.

Constructed by Geely Group Motorsport and raced by CYAN Racing. the Lynk & Co 03 TCR is powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine that produces 350hp of power and 420Nm of torque, matching WTCR regulations. It is mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox operated via paddle shifters. Apart from that, it features front MacPherson and rear multi-link suspensions with adjustable dampers, front 6-piston and rear 2-piston ventilated disc brakes, FIA-approved roll cage, race seats, and six-point harnesses, a fire extinguisher, and an FIA safety fuel cell.

The 03 TCR won three WTCR seasons from 2019 to 2021 as well as two drivers' titles including a 1-2 finish for Yann Ehrlacher and Yvan Muller in the 2020 season. However, in the 2022 season, CYAN Racing called it quits from the three final rounds of the season due to safety concerns. Following the cancellation of the 2022 WTCR season's Race of Germany due to the quality of the Goodyear tires the TCR machines have used, CYAN Racing withdrew the entire cars from the 2022 season's Race of Italy and will not continue throughout the season.

It's a real shame that CYAN couldn't pull a four-peat due to safety and tire concerns with this car but for a Chinese touring car with three WTCR wins on the trot, that sounds pretty impressive. It made Lynk & Co and CYAN Racing a force to be reckoned with.

Okay, time to experience what's like to drive a three-time WTCR champion, and before you can say WTF, it really is because being a TCR, it's front-wheel-drive, meaning there's a lot of drama and grip involved while driving a TCR. Anyway, let's roll the freaking tape.

TCR FTW indeed but only just.

Now that we fully understand the Lynk & Co 03, in a road car and race car guises, it's no wonder why the Forza producers began kowtowing to Beijing just to get our hands on this impressive midsize sedan from a brand that knows all about mobility for the Gen Z yuppies. For a Chinese car with a Volvo connection, it's hard, to sum this car up but there's one obvious word that sums the Lynk & Co 03 really well; catharsis.

Cyan-nara, boys. Enjoy your new ride.

My FH5 Log: Lynk'n Loud

You guessed it, another Chinese car has descended into Forza Horizon 5 via the Horizon Road Trip's Dry Season Playlist.

Care to guess what that is? Here's a hint: it belongs to the same parent company that controls Lotus and Volvo. Also, it rhymes with Lincoln if you catch my drift.

If your answer is the Lynk & Co 03, then you're almost right because this is the Lynk & Co 03+, the sleek and sporty version of Lynk & Co's first four-door saloon.

If you're unfamiliar with the Lynk & Co brand, then you're not alone. This was spawned by Geely, the Chinese motoring giant that owned Lotus and Volvo, among many others. Launched in 2016, their first product was the Lynk & Co 01 compact crossover which runs on the same bits and bobs as the Volvo XC40.

The Lynk & Co 03, the brand's first 4-door saloon, was unveiled at the 2018 Chengdu Motor Show. Running on the same platform as the 01, the Lynk & Co 03 compact saloon features styling similar to its crossover derivatives as well as a futuristic interior fit to be called a "smartphone on wheels" like the rest of the lineup. It's powered by a choice of a 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo or a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. 

The 03+ is considered to be the road-legal equivalent of the touring car used in the FIA WTCR. It's powered by a 2-liter Drive-E turbocharged engine from Volvo, producing 254PS of power and 350Nm of torque. With the standard 8-speed AT and all-wheel-drive, it's capable of going from 0-100kph in 5.9 seconds.

Despite being made in China, the 03+ has the impression of a European hot hatch when you get a hold of it. Sure, it feels mild to drive but it's downright menacing for a Chinese sports sedan with European know-how. It somewhat reminded us of the Volvo S60 Polestar from several years ago and to them, this could be the spiritual successor if you know what I mean.

Let's give this road-legal touring car some challenge and with that, I went to the Hot Wheels park for a little torture test with this Chinese sports sedan I never asked for. Will the Swedish connection work with this Beijing Beef? Let's roll the tape.

Ended up messy but the final strike's worth it.

For a Chinese sports sedan with a Swedish connection, I'd say the Lynk & Co 03+ did come through with flying colors. With its touring car know-how combined with the all-wheel-drive capability, the Lynk & Co 03+ truly is the spiritual successor to a very hot Volvo sedan that time forgot. Paint it with cyan colors and this car's on the roll, just like the touring car that crushed the competition by surprise.

Enjoy your new ride!