- The VinFast VF6 is open for reservations in France, Germany and The Netherlands.
- It begins at about $36,000 for the Eco mannequin, which will get a 201-horsepower motor and 59.6 kWh LFP battery.
- VinFast says the automobile is sweet for as much as 254 miles of vary. (WLTP cycle)
Y’know, kudos to VinFast. Regardless of having one of many worst-reviewed automobiles in current reminiscence, which led to the Vietnamese startup having a few of the slowest-selling fashions available on the market, it hasn’t given up on its electrical automobile plans. The VF8 has gone by way of some enhancements, which supposedly has made it tolerable to make use of. Its as soon as missing-in-action VF9 three-row crossover is lastly making its strategy to U.S. dealerships.
Equally, VinFast simply introduced that its Chevy Bolt-sized VinFast VF6 is headed to Europe. This product announcement is a bit more necessary than simply one more bizarre model promoting one other small EV in Europe. VinFast needs this automobile to democratize EVs, and it thinks the VF6 might be a instrument to get Europeans behind the wheel of fairly priced EVs.
Picture by: Vinfast
We actually don’t know an excessive amount of in regards to the VF6 simply but, although. It was initially proven off as a preproduction idea about three years in the past, nevertheless it seems like VinFast has stayed pretty near that mannequin. And sure, the VF6 is an actual automobile; it’s been on Vietnamese roads for the previous few months, rolling round within the fingers of Vietnamese clients.
There are already a handful of Vietnamese-language movies and articles reviewing the VF6, however no media has actually acquired their fingers on the automobile exterior of Vietnam.
Mechanically, the VF6 will probably be powered by a 201-horsepower motor powering the entrance wheels. The VF6’s 59.6 kWh LFP battery is sweet for 254 miles of vary, primarily based on the WLTP cycle. The automobile’s guts appear semi subtle although, because it makes use of a completely unbiased multi-link rear suspension quite than a semi-independent torsion beam generally discovered on different low cost small EVs.
It is fascinating to notice that within the press launch the model despatched over, VinFast harped on EV affordability. It quoted Boston Consulting Group, saying that “the democratization of EVs is dependent upon their skill to construct an inexpensive B-segment for the European market.” It additionally mentioned that 27% of all European automobiles are on this B-segment (subcompact), but the electrical choices there are slim.
At the moment, the VF6 is already open for reservations in France, Germany and The Netherlands, beginning at simply shy of $36,000 (33,900€). It wouldn’t be the most affordable EV within the section, although. Vehicles just like the Leapmotor T03 or Dacia Spring undercut the VF6 by an enormous margin, however they’re a lot smaller automobiles with quite a bit much less energy and vary. The brand new Ford Puma Gen-E is identical dimension class as VinFast’s VF6, and it is just barely dearer. However its 233-mile vary means it may possibly’t go as far. Might VinFast have a right-priced, right-sized hit on its fingers right here?
Vinfast VF6 on the 2022 Paris Motor Present
Possibly so. The VinFast VF6 may find yourself being a stealth hit in Europe for one cause: it’s Vietnamese. Due to this fact, it’s not topic to double-digit anti-Chinese language tariffs the EU has leveled towards imported electrical automobiles from China. Equally, I feel the VF6 may be a shock hit right here in America. The VF6 (and VF7) genuinely seem like better-executed merchandise than the VF8. These merchandise can be low cost, which ought to imply that patrons can be extra prepared to miss a product’s shortcomings because it wouldn’t price an excessive amount of to purchase.
I stay cautiously optimistic. If VinFast can preserve its high quality in examine, and ship a satisfying driving expertise, then the model might have a future in any case.
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