VinFast, the Vietnamese automaker born from a billionaire's instant noodle fortune, has decided its electric crossover needed a glow-up. The company, which started in 2017 by slapping its badge on Opel hatchbacks and BMW-based gas guzzlers, has now unveiled a second-generation VF 8 that's slightly smaller, slightly taller, and entirely redesigned.
The new VF 8 measures 185.1 inches long, 73.7 inches wide, and 65.7 inches tall, with a 111.8-inch wheelbase - making it a bit more compact than the original's 187-inch length and 76.1-inch width. Ground clearance has crept up to about 6.7 inches, likely to handle the speed bumps of Vietnam's noodle-delivery routes. The exterior gets comma-shaped LED daytime running lights (because nothing says "I've arrived" like punctuation), a black front grille, and semi-hidden door handles that scream "I'm modern, dammit."
Inside, the dashboard, steering wheel, door panels, and center tunnel have been completely redone. A separate digital instrument cluster replaces the old heads-up display, and the infotainment screen mercifully shrinks from a 15.6-inch behemoth to a more reasonable 12.9 inches. Dual-zone climate control, a virtual assistant, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist come standard - because even electric cars need to nag you about staying in your lane.
Under the sheet metal, VinFast says the second-gen VF 8 rides on an entirely new chassis with adaptive suspension. For now, it's offered with a single front electric motor producing 231 horsepower and a 60.13 kWh battery, good for up to 311 miles on the optimistic NEDC cycle. That's a drop from the original front-wheel-drive model's 204 horsepower and 87.7 kWh battery, but hey, progress is complicated. The old all-wheel-drive version pumped out 408 horsepower and up to 284 miles on the WLTP cycle, but that's apparently on hold for now.
Orders are already open in Vietnam, with pricing starting at about $35,500 and deliveries slated for July. Export markets will have to wait until next year for their turn. Meanwhile, VinFast is also teasing a luxury line called Lac Hong, featuring an electric sedan and crossover with three-motor powertrains - because why stop at two motors when you can have three and confuse everyone?