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Vietnam's VinFast Drops Three New Electric SUVs, Two Are Coming to U.S. in 2022

If Henry Ford were alive today to see how much the automobile has progressed, he would most likely be in complete awe of how far things have gone. Not only do we have road-going vehicles that can travel at speeds of about 300 mph (480 kph), but we are moving into a new age of the automobile, one in which human drivers might just become a thing of the past. That is good news for people who never really cared much about driving.
VinFast VF33 14 photos
Photo: VinFast
For years and years now, car manufacturers have been investing billions of dollars into the research and development of autonomous vehicles. A car you can just jump in, input coordinates, and then go to sleep without having to worry about anything. Sure, we've made great progress since the early days when you wouldn't even get airbags with your car, but the question is, how far off from a fully autonomous vehicle are we?

If you look past the main competitors in the automotive industry, you'll notice a plethora of companies that have emerged sometime in the past decade. Each one aimed to make itself noticed by launching innovative products packed with the latest technology. Vietnam-based automotive manufacturer VinFast is one of them. Launched in June of 2017, with its headquarters being located in Haiphong, VinFast had its first official appearance at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.

Following a reported initial investment of $1.5 billion, VinFast is now looking to make its first major move on the market by launching not one, but three Smart EV models. The company labels these as "SUVs that are multi-purpose vehicles, with a strong and trendy high-chassis design; capable of steering and self-driving assistance; equipped with outstanding safety and intelligence features." Without further ado, let's see what each one is about.

VinFast VF31

The VinFast VF31 is a compact SUV that could be categorized as being part of the C-segment. It comes with basic self-driving and steering assistance features such as lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and the list goes on to describe several options that are pretty much making their way into every new, premium-level vehicle these days. The VF31 will only be available in Vietnam, and the first units will be delivered in November 2021.

The VF31 is 169 inches (4,300 mm) long, which makes it shorter than the Mazda CX-5. It will be available with two different electric motors. The premium one has an output of 150 kW (201 hp/204 PS) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque, while the basic version only provides 85 kW (114 hp/115 PS) and 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) of torque. The company notes that an autonomy of up to 186 miles (300 km) is possible with this vehicle.

VinFast VF32

The VinFast VF32 takes things to the next level, and it is labeled by the company as a "self-driving level 2-3 mid-size electric SUV, equivalent to a D-segment SUV". More interior space is available, as this model is 187 inches (4,750 mm) long, which means it's going to be slightly bigger than a Chevrolet Equinox, for example. The standard version will be powered by the engine used on the premium VF31.

But the top of the line VF32 model will also benefit from a secondary electric engine as well, which will bring the total output to 300 kW (402 hp/408 PS) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft) of torque. This car will also be using a permanent 4-wheel drive system and has a battery capacity of 90 kWh. The VinFast VF32 will be delivered in Vietnam starting February 2022, and the big news is it will also come to the United States, Canada, and Europe starting in June 2022.

VinFast VF33

The VinFast VF33 is the most impressive vehicle of the Vietnamese manufacturer available to date. Measuring 201 inches (5,120 mm), it's just slightly longer than the 2021 Ford Explorer. The powertrain seems to be pretty much similar to the VF32, with the exception of an increased range of up to 341 miles (550 km), thanks to higher capacity batteries.

VinFast points out that the VF33 is a "self-driving level 3 mid-size electric SUV with some level 4 features, equivalent to an E Segment SUV". Just as the VF32, you can put an order in for the VF33 starting September 2021 if you're in Vietnam, and November 2021 if you live in the United States, Canada, or Europe. Why yes, this one is coming to North America as well. Similarities with the VF32 continue in the safety ratings, as both vehicles are said to be engineered to get the best result in both NHTSA and Euro NCAP tests.

Pricing for these three vehicles has not yet been disclosed, but we do have some more information regarding the available safety features. As the company states, the premium versions of these cars include "high-performance sensor systems including LiDAR sensors, 14 cameras that are capable of detecting objects up to 2,253 feet (687 meters) away and 19 360-degree sensors that allow warning and handling at high speeds of over 62 mph (100 kph)."
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About the author: Dragos Chitulescu
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The things Dragos enjoys the most in life are, in no particular order: cars, motorcycles, diecast cars, and drifting. He's seen (and driven) many vehicles since he started his writing career back in 2009, but his garage currently houses a 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II and a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S.
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