Vietnamese automaker VinFast has come to the United States with two all-electric crossovers rocking Pininfarina exteriors and meant to occupy the same market niche as the Tesla Model X and Model Y. Pre-orders should open in the first half of 2022.
The VinFast VF e35 and VF e36 sport the same overall styling with similar-looking bumpers, lights and illuminated V-shaped highlights at both ends. The larger SUV has a more rugged appearance with unusually shaped c-pillars, while the compact CUV looks more or less like a typical city car.
The interior layouts are also very similar, although the trim is different. The steering wheel is squared off at the bottom, there is no conventional dashboard, and the infotainment touchscreen measures 15.4 inches in diameter. The car comes with an SAE Level 3 self-driving suite including a LiDAR and 33 other sensing devices for a 360-degree awareness at all times.
The VF e35 will ship in a single-motor spec rated at 204 PS (201 hp / 150 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque and a dual-motor one capable of 408 PS (402 hp / 300 kW) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft). Both specs will use the same 90-kWh traction battery rated at approximately 400 km (248 miles) of range. In turn, the VF e36 will only be available with the dual-motor setup mentioned above. Its larger 106-kWh battery will give it 560 km (348 miles) of range.