CHINESE car maker Geely is to launch a new premium SUV on the global market next year which has been designed and engineered by Volvo which the company also owns.

Called the Lynk & Co 01 it will be the first of several new models the Chinese giant will roll out in the next few years.

The 01 has been designed by Brit Peter Horbury in Sweden with support from studios in Shanghai, Barcelona and Los Angeles.

It is due go on sale in China next year with sales in the UK expected towards the end of 2018.

The Lynk & Co 01 will be powered by Volvo engines including a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol unit, a hybrid and an all-electric model. There will be a choice of seven-speed auto or manual gearboxes plus front or all-wheel drive.

The new brand will be marketed on a different basis than normal. Lynk & Co cars will be sold online or in owned stores in strategic retail locations, with fixed prices.

Cars will be delivered, and picked up for service directly at the door of the owner. New solutions for car usage and access will be offered - from traditional ownership, leasing or sharing between small groups.

The new SUV will be kitted out with high-tech gear including a 10-inch central touchscreen and telematics systems that are connected to the Internet 24-7. Appple CarPlay and MirrorLink connectivity is supported and well as Android Auto. It can also be controlled by smartphone via a Lynk and Co app.

All Lynk & Co models, as with Volvos, have been developed to meet the latest top rating safety ratings and as well as all its passive safety features the 01 will feature forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection and lane departure warning.

Geely says it is aiming for around 500,000 worldwide sales of Lynk & Co models over the next five years.