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VinFast VF 8

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VinFast VF8
Overview
ManufacturerVinFast
Also called
  • VinFast VF32
  • VinFast VF e35
Production2022–present
Model years2023–present
Assembly
DesignerPininfarina[1][2][3]
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size crossover SUV (D)
Body style5-door SUV
Layout
Powertrain
Electric motorPermanent magnet
Power output
  • 201 hp (150 kW) (FWD)
  • 348 hp (260 kW) (Eco AWD)
  • 402 hp (300 kW) (Plus AWD)
Battery82 or 87.7 kWh
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,950 mm (116.1 in)
Length4,750 mm (187.0 in)
Width1,900 mm (74.8 in)
Height1,660 mm (65.4 in)

The VinFast VF 8 (formerly named VinFast VF e35 and VinFast VF32) is a battery electric Mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by VinFast of Vingroup from 2022.

History

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The VF 8 model made its debut in the second half of January 2022 in the electric car lineup of the Vietnamese automaker VinFast, which also served as the prelude for a planned expansion to global markets.[4] VinFast opened orders for the VF 8 in January 2022 in the domestic Vietnamese market, with the first deliveries to 100 Vietnamese customers commenced on September 10, 2022.[5]

Rear

In the United States, VinFast opened six dealerships in California on July 14, 2022, showing both the VF 8 and VF 9, with deliveries planned for fall 2022.[6] An assembly plant in Chatham County, North Carolina broke ground in summer 2023 with production of the VF7, VF8, and VF9 slated to begin from 2025.[7][8][9]

Design

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The VF 8 is a crossover with round proportions combining chrome ornaments with a double strip of headlamps in the front of the body. Narrow LED daytime running lights are separated by a chrome bar, under which the rest of the headlamps are located.[10] The car was styled by Pininfarina; VinFast's design team was led by director David Lyon.[11]

Interior

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Interior
Interior

The dashboard has a two-colour aesthetic, with switches of driving modes in the centre tunnel, as well as a large multimedia system touch display.[12] The traditional instrument panel has been replaced by the central multimedia screen and a head-up display projected on the windshield.[11]

Drivetrain

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The VF 8 is available with multiple traction motor arrangements. In the United States, the VF 8 has a dual-motor all-wheel-drive arrangement, with output of either 348 hp (260 kW; 353 PS) and 368 lb⋅ft (499 N⋅m) ("Eco" model) or 402 hp (300 kW; 408 PS) and 457 lb⋅ft (620 N⋅m) ("Plus").[6] In Vietnam, the VF 8 is also available in a single-motor variant with front-wheel drive, producing 201 hp (150 kW; 204 PS) and 236 lb⋅ft (320 N⋅m).[12][13]

The first batteries used in the VF 8 are from Samsung SDI.[14] VinFast plans to add its own battery factory by August 2022.[needs update][7] Both the "Eco" and "Plus" models are available with one of two traction battery options: "standard range", with 82 kW-hr usable, or "extended range", with 87.7 kW-hr usable (90 kW-hr gross).[15][16] The estimated range depends on the powertrain and battery combination, ranging from 248 mi (399 km) ("Plus, standard range") to 292 mi (470 km) ("Eco, extended range")[15] under the WLTP cycle.[16] For the United States, the batteries are leased separately from the vehicle to reduce purchase costs and alleviate concerns regarding traction battery degradation. VinFast have stated they will replace a leased battery if it falls below 70% of initial capacity. Eventually, VinFast plan to offer the vehicle with a purchased battery.[17]

Safety

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ASEAN NCAP

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2023 VinFast VF 8 (Vietnam)
ASEAN NCAP scores[18]
Overall stars / Score 89.50
Adult occupant 28.85/32.00
Child occupant 47.00/51.00
Safety assist 21.00/21.00
Motorcyclist safety 12.00/16.00

Euro NCAP

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Euro NCAP test results
Vinfast VF 8 150 kW dual-motor Plus (LHD) (2023)[19]
Test Points %
Overall:
Adult occupant: 30.6 76%
Child occupant: 44 89%
Pedestrian: 48.6 77%
Safety assist: 14.4 79%

Reception

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The VinFast VF 8 received a widely negative reception after press cars became available to automotive journalists in the United States. A number of well-established and broadly published automotive journalists and car critics have given the VF8 poor reviews for virtually every metric.

Kevin Williams of Jalopnik test drove a pre-production model of the VF 8 which had at that time received Vietnamese sales approval. Williams remarked that the car "felt slow", with inconsistent performance between individual vehicles. He was highly critical of the vehicle's ride and handling, with visibly poor suspension control and unresponsive steering. He concluded that the VF 8 was an "underdeveloped, unfinished product that, quite frankly, would be an embarrassment in any market."[20] Brian Wong of Green Car Reports also tested a pre-production model: he described the car as having noticeable body roll, poor braking performance, and poor throttle tuning.[21]

Emme Hall of Green Car Reports later tested a production model and noted the car's poor build quality, and again described poor suspension and braking performance. However, Hall praised the VF 8's infotainment system as well-organised and responsive, and commended VinFast for its 10-year warranty. Hall concluded that if VinFast had taken a slower timeline to sort through the VF 8's issues, "it might actually have a decent car."[22]

Road & Track's reviewer Mack Hogan also criticised the VF 8 for poor build quality, and claimed that the VF 8 had the worst ride quality and steering of any car he had reviewed. Hogan also complained of poor braking performance and constant alarms from the car's driver assist features.[23]

Scott Evans, writing for MotorTrend, said largely the same, again complaining of poor performance and numerous malfunctioning systems and driver aids, while also describing inconsistent and poor build quality across his car and those of other journalists. Evans noted that most of the problems he experienced with the VF 8 could, in theory, be rectified with software upgrades, but issues such as the poor suspension, an uncomfortable interior, and poor build quality could only be fixed with changes at the factory. Evans did, however, praise the car's interior space, its adaptive cruise control and steering assistance, and said that the heads-up display and infotainment system were both impressive but could be better organized. In contrast to other reviewers, he said that the VF 8's braking performance was "shockingly good", and said that the car appeared to have much better range than advertised. Evans concluded that VinFast "have the right idea", but that he would "be embarrassed to look a customer in the eye when handing over the keys to this vehicle" in its current state.[24]

Steven Ewing's review for InsideEVs likewise described poor build quality, criticised the organization of controls within the infotainment system, and complained of annoying and persistent driver assistance alerts. He also criticised the VF 8's suspension and steering.[25]

Ezra Dyer of Car and Driver also noted that the VF 8 showed better range than advertised and commended VinFast's warranty, but likewise complained of sub-standard build and ride quality. Dyer concluded that the car's shortcomings could be forgiven if it had been "hilariously inexpensive", but were unacceptable given the asking price.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "VinFast and Pininfarina detail VF 8 and VF 9 designs". NewsDirect. March 2, 2022. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "VinFast, Two New Models Designed by Pininfarina". Auto Design Magazine. September 27, 2021. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  3. ^ Warrick, Jack (March 2, 2022). "Vinfast and Pininfarina detail new VF 8 and VF 9 electric SUVs". Autocar. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Vijayenthiran, Viknesh (March 3, 2023). "Vietnam's VinFast reveals trio of electric SUVs, including 2 for US". Motor Authority. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Quốc, Minh (September 10, 2022). "Chi tiết VinFast VF8 bản thương mại vừa giao tới 100 khách Việt đầu tiên: Không khác nhiều concept" [Details of VinFast VF8 commercial version just delivered to the first 100 Vietnamese customers: Not much different from the concept]. Tuổi Trẻ Online (in Vietnamese). Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Miller, Caleb (July 8, 2022). "VinFast to Open Six EV Showrooms in California, Targets Fall Deliveries". Car and Driver. Hearst Communications. ISSN 0008-6002. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Nguyen, Phuong; Krolicki, Kevin (May 24, 2022). Cushing, Christopher; Harvey, Jan (eds.). "Vietnam's VinFast to shift legal HQ to Singapore ahead of first exports to Europe, U.S." Automotive News Europe. Crain Communications. Reuters. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  8. ^ Miller, Caleb (March 29, 2022). "Vietnam's VinFast to Build 2 EVs at New Factory in North Carolina". Car and Driver. Hearst Communications. ISSN 0008-6002. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "VinFast Breaks Ground On Its EV Plant In North Carolina". Inside EVs. July 31, 2023.
  10. ^ Lee, Jonathan (January 22, 2021). "VinFast VF31, VF32, VF33 revealed – Vietnamese electric SUVs with Level 4 autonomous driving". paultan.org. Driven Communications Sdn Bhd. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Scherr, Elana (April 28, 2022). "VinFast Is Going All-Electric, and Worldwide, at Full Speed". Car and Driver. Hearst Communications. ISSN 0008-6002. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "VinFast VF33, VF32, VF31 – Vietnam Electric SUVs For The USA". EV Obsession. January 23, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Markus, Frank (September 30, 2021). "2023 VinFast VF e35 and VF e36 First Look: Vietnamese EVs". Motor Trend. Motor Trend Group. ISSN 0027-2094. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  14. ^ Mukminin, Amirul (May 25, 2022). "VinFast Moving HQ to Singapore to Prepare for First Exports". Drive Safe & Fast. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Yoney, Domenick (April 26, 2022). "VinFast VF8 Prototype First Drive: Half A World And Months Away". Inside EVs. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Paukert, Chris (April 26, 2022). "2023 VinFast VF 8 First Drive Review: Testing Vietnam's First EV for America". Road/Show. CNET. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  17. ^ Paukert, Chris (April 14, 2022). "VinFast's Confusing Battery Subscription and Vehicle Pricing Explained". Road/Show. CNET. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  18. ^ VF8 Digital Report 21 Mar 2023
  19. ^ https://cdn.euroncap.com/media/82671/euroncap-2023-vinfast-vf8-datasheet.pdf
  20. ^ "The VinFast VF8 Is Simply Not Ready for America". Jalopnik. December 14, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  21. ^ "Preview drive: 2023 Vinfast VF 8 has a long way to go, and a short time to get there". Green Car Reports. April 25, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "Review: Don't buy the 2023 Vinfast VF 8 City Edition". Green Car Reports. May 12, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "First Drive: The 2023 VinFast VF8 Is Unacceptable". Road & Track. May 12, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  24. ^ Evans, Scott (May 12, 2023). "2023 VinFast VF8 First Drive: Return to Sender". Motor Trend.
  25. ^ Ewing, Steven (May 12, 2023). "2023 VinFast VF8 City Edition First Drive Review: Yikes". InsideEVs. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  26. ^ Dryer, Ezra (May 16, 2023). "Tested: 2023 VinFast VF8 Proves Building Cars Is Hard". Car and Driver. Hearst Communications. ISSN 0008-6002. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
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