VinFast VF8 electric SUV spotted in India for the first time, hits the ton in 5.5 seconds, maximum range up to 447 km
VinFast VF8 electric SUV has been spotted for the first time on Indian roads. The EV, which is known for its huge road presence worldwide, has some amazing numbers to boast including its unbelievable price tags. Read more to find them out.
While the spotted car looks, most probably, like a private import, it could also be brought by the company for homologation and launch in India. In fact, there has never been a time as great as a now for launching EVs in the country.
For starters, VinFast is a Singapore-based automotive startup. Being a subsidiary of Vietnam’s Vin Group, the the company began its operations in 2017. The VF8, formerly VF e35, is the company’s electric SUV that made its global debut in November, 2021.
Carved out by Mahindra-owned automobile-designing firm, Pininfarina, VF8 boasts of huge dimensions and muscle curves, known the world over for its great road presence for an EV.
To give you a clue about its size, the VF8 is longer than the upcoming Big Daddy of SUVs, the Mahindra Scorpio N by 88 mm while the wheelbase is also longer by 200 mm. The SUV rides on large 20-inch wheels slapped with low-profile tires.
Internationally, the VF8 comes it 2 versions – Eco and Plus, each with 2 trims. Power comes from a standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive system with a combined output of up to a staggering 402 HP and 620 Nm, much higher than both BMW i4 and Kia EV6 GT Line EVs on sale in India.
The SUV can hit the ton in 5.5 seconds which is faster than both the BMW i4 and Kia EV6 GT Line RWD. The dual motors are fed either by a 82 kWh or 87.7 kWh battery packs as per variants with maximum claimed range up to 447 km.
The VF8 supports fast charging with 10 to 70 percent reaching in around half an hour, which is just about a tea break during journeys. VinFast also assures a standard 10-year or 2 lakh-km warranty for both the car and battery pack which should give absolute peace of mind.
In addition to these numbers, the VF8 also boasts of a lot of driver aides, electronics, and creature comfort features. There’s a huge floating display with a long list of options to fiddle with. The only gripe is that the SUV is just a 5-seater despite the huge size.
Coming to the VinFast VF8’s price. Internationally, the SUV retails from $40,700 to $48,000 which translates to Rs. 31.75 lakhs to Rs. 37.45 lakhs, which is nearly half the price of the BMW i4 and Kia EV6 GT Line on sale in India.
In fact, it’s just a tad costlier than the MG ZS EV. If the electric SUV goes on sale here, it’s sure to heat up the space and force manufacturers to bring down the prices of their EVs further.