Vinfast was founded in 2017. The brand belongs to the Vingroup concern, which grew up as a manufacturer of instant noodles in Ukraine. The group's fields of activity now range from the real estate business to smartphones and cars.
As early as 2018, just a year after it was founded, Vinfast showed a sedan and an SUV at the Paris Motor Show. The vehicles owed the chic bodies to the Italian designer house Pininfarina, while the combustion engine technology came from BMW.
Vinfast opens reservations for its first two electric SUVs and announces price details. The models previously known as the VF e35 and e36 are now called the VF 8 and VF 9. The reason for the renaming is that Vinfast only wants to offer electric cars in the future - so the "e" no longer makes sense.
The combustion engines offered in Vietnam will be discontinued from the end of 2022. In addition, product naming is becoming more transparent, at least for us Americans: the models will be named VF 5 to VF 9 according to size.
At least at the start, only VF 8 and 9 will be offered to us, and the two electric models are getting ready for the US market. The Vietnamese manufacturer's SUV models are already on sale in Europe, and the first orders are also delivered here. Vinfast also plants a tree in the name of each customer.
Blockchain technology is used for reservations, payments as well as certification of vehicle ownership. With the reservation, you will receive an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) certifying membership in the Vinfast pioneer program, Vinfirst.
Vinfast is already satisfied with the demand: In the first 48 hours after the start of the reservations, the two models were reserved 24,308 times worldwide. Of these, around 15,000 were for the VF 8 and around 9,000 for the VF 9.
According to Reuters, the vehicles are to be offered with battery leasing, which probably means that you don't have to buy the battery but pay a monthly rate for it. The cars are produced in Vietnam, but according to Vinfast, they want to " keep an eye on" the possibility of a production plant in the USA. In addition, Vinfast is targeting an IPO in the United States.
The Design
Vinfast will launch exclusively electric models. The VF8 (e35) is a mid-range SUV. Its 4.75 meters in length and the wheelbase of 2.61 meters suggest that there is plenty of space inside.
Visually, the VF 8 makes a modern impression. The front features split headlights, making the VF 8 look a little sporty and aggressive. A look at the sidelines shows well-known proportions and a design that is also known from other current e-SUVs. The performance version, VFR8, gets a slightly flatter sloping roofline, so it's designed a bit coupe-like in a way.
The larger of the two is in the upper middle class. With the VF9 (e36), Vinfast wants to serve the 7-seater SUV segment. With a length of 5.12 meters and a wheelbase of 3.15 meters, the occupants will definitely have no space problems.
The doors of the VF 9 are normal and classic, but the side window line is a little more unconventional. The roof and substructure almost meet here at the C-pillar. The dark D-pillar also suggests a band of windows running all the way around. Overall, the VF 9 is very functional. It looks a bit boxy, but it is robust and made for use in a large family.
The Power
The VF 8 is powered by two electric motors with a total output of 408 hp, with each motor responsible for one axle. This means that it has all-wheel drive. The battery will have a capacity of 42 kWh, and with a range of 313 miles, the VF 8 is definitely suitable for everyday use.
The output of the VF 9 is also 408 hp, but the battery capacity will be significantly larger at 106 kWh. Vinfast specifies a range of 342 miles. The large SUV then sprints from zero to 60 km/h in under 6.5 seconds.
The Interior
Inside the VF8 (e35), you can expect a noble, reduced but high-quality interior. The touch display sits dominantly in the middle of the dashboard. The seats are provided with a mix of materials and decorated with embroidery.
Overall, it gives the impression that there are only a few manually operated buttons in the VF8. The large panoramic roof brings plenty of light into the interior, creating a feel-good atmosphere.
The VF9 (e36) is also high-quality and also generous. The arrangement of the rows of seats in 2+2+2 shows that only 6 and not 7 people can be accommodated in the VF 9. The third row's middle seat is not a real seat because there is no headrest either. The two-tone seats are modern, and the cockpit is reserved but functional.
As in the VF 8, you can also see the large display in the middle of the dashboard, and there seems to be a wide center armrest between the driver and passenger.
Overall, both models should be equipped with many assistance systems. Among other things, a lane departure warning, blind spot warning, parking assistant and 360-degree camera will be available. The infotainment is voice-controlled, and the digital cockpit works with face recognition.
Conclusion
Vinfast have brought together breathtaking design, advanced technology and cutting-edge manufacturing to create Vietnam's first global car manufacturer. Vingroup has been changing the way people live in Vietnam for thirty years. Now VinFast is expanding this mission to the whole world.
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Resources
- https://www.caranddriver.com/vinfast/vf9
- https://insideevs.com/news/579888/vinfast-releases-vf8-and-vf9-us-pricing-with-battery-subscription/
- https://vinfastauto.us/vehicles/vf-8
- https://vinfastauto.us/vehicles/vf-9
- https://vinfastauto.us/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VinFast_VF_9
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VinFast_VF_8
- https://www.consumerreports.org/hybrids-evs/vinfast-vf-8-vf-9-electric-suv-review-a2784826004/
- https://www.arenaev.com/vinfast_vf8_and_vf9_coming_to_canada_and_europe-news-268.php
- https://e-vehicleinfo.com/vinfast-to-launch-2-new-electric-cars-vf8-vf9-with-baas-model-price-details/
- https://evto.ca/vinfast-vf8-vf9-canadian-pricing/
- https://www.auto123.com/en/news/vinfast-canadian-prices-electric-vf8-vf9/69045/
- https://www.motortrend.com/cars/vinfast/vf9/
- https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20220801VL203/vinfast.html&chid=10
Tankut Basar
Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end.
