The VinFast VF 8 (formerly named VinFast VF e35 and VinFast VF32) is a battery electric mid-size crossover manufactured and marketed by VinFast of Vingroup from 2022.
History
The VF 8 model made its debut in the second half of January 2021 in the electric car lineup of the Vietnamese automaker VinFast, which also served as the prelude for a planned expansion to global markets. VinFast opened orders for the VF 8 in January 2022 in the domestic Vietnamese market, with the first deliveries to 100 Vietnamese customers on September 10, 2022.
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. 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.
Design
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. The car was styled by Pininfarina; VinFast's design team was led by director David Lyon.
Interior
The dashboard has a two-colour aesthetic, distinguished by avant-garde designed switches of driving modes in the centre tunnel, as well as a large multimedia system touch display. The traditional instrument panel has been replaced by the central multimedia screen and a head-up display projected on the windshield.
Drivetrain
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 and ("Eco" model) or and ("Plus"). In Vietnam, the VF 8 is also available in a single-motor variant with front-wheel drive, producing and .
The first batteries used in the VF 8 are from Samsung SDI. VinFast plans to add its own battery factory by August 2022. 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). The estimated range depends on the powertrain and battery combination, ranging from ("Plus, standard range") to ("Eco, extended range") under the WLTP cycle. 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.
Reception
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 vehicles 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." 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.
Emme Hall of Green Car Reports later tested the final 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."