An Electric Blue Dragon called VinFast VF8
VinFast, an automotive company head-quartered in Vietnam, is all set to storm the North American car market with its electric vehicles.
In an already flooded EV scenario, if you want to make your voice heard, you need to have passion, patience, and determination. At the same time, if you want to taste success in a short period, you should have the backup of proper funding. VinFast, an automotive company head-quartered in Vietnam, is all set to storm the North American car market with its electric vehicles.
The company started in 2018, was able to start shipping of their first product to the Us recently. Now, they are in the process of establishing its plant in North Carolina by 2024. The auto maker is part of Vin Group, the largest private business conglomerate of Vietnam having their foot prints in sectors ranging from construction to health care. Apart from the first product, the mid-size VF8, they plan to introduce the full-size VF9, the subcompact VF 6 and compact VF7 by next year.
The VF8 is an electric crossover available in two trims: the Eco and the Plus. The vehicle is 187 inches long, 74.8 inches wide and 65.4 inches tall. The Eco model is powered by 82kWh battery pack and the dual electric motors capable of producing 348 horsepower with AWD. The Plus comes with a larger 87.7kWh battery mated to a heavier, 402 horsepower dual motor setup.
Vinfast VF8 comes in a variety of hues
The Pininfarina design characteristics are evident from the rear three-quarter view, with clean body lines and rear light bar, blended to the smooth body proportions. The V shape of the front fascia follows the shape of the logo, and this is extending to the split headlight design. At the back, the VinFast name is presented in bold letters.
The higher variant comes with panoramic sunroof, auto-dimming mirrors, and a powered rear liftgate with a foot-activated sensor. The Eco trim rides on 19-inch alloy wheels, but the Plus has 20s and can be upgraded to 21s. The color options are Braminy White, Desat Silver, Neptune Gray, Jet Black, Crimson Red, Sunset Orange, Deep Ocean, and Vin Fast Blue.
According to the WLTP cycle, a range of 260 miles for the Eco and 248 miles for the Plus can be expected, while the enhanced range is 292/277 miles, respectively. The standard-range models can refill the battery from 10% to 70% in about 24 minutes, and the enhanced-range versions will need 31 minutes.
The VinFast Charged-Up scheme provides VF8 owners with three years of complimentary charging, with unlimited sessions. The second package will give customers a free Level 2 Home Charger and a credit worth $1,200. Inside, the dashboard is dominated by a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen.
There’s a colour head-up display also, to see how fast the vehicle is moving. On the center console, there is a push-button gear selector. The voice command function adjusts climate, audio, and the sunroof. The other features include Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 360 Surround view system, and a power tailgate.
It has ADAS with traffic jam assist, highway assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, and blind spot detection. There are three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport.
EV marketplace to get hotter
Challenging the conventional system of providing battery along with the vehicle as one unit, VinFast offers a battery subscription model, allowing buyers to acquire their car at a lower sticker price, but pay a monthly fee for the battery.
The VF8 Eco starts at $40,700, and the Pro runs $47,700. The least expensive battery subscription package, ‘The Flexible Plan,’ costs $35 a month ($420 annually) with a monthly allowance of 310 miles and an additional fee of $0.11 per mile over 310.
The second one, called ‘The Fixed Plan,’ runs $110 billed monthly ($1,320 annually) and allows unlimited mileage. The competition in the U.S. market for EVs will definitely become hotter with the entry of VinFast VF8.