VinFast, Vietnam’s first car company, has lifted the
veils off its two Pininfarina-designed cars set to debut at this years’ Paris
Auto Show. The sedan and SUV models have been designed for the company’s home
market based on a selection made by the Vietnamese people. VinFast gave the
people of Vietnam the opportunity to influence the styling direction at the
very beginning of the design process one year ago.
More than 62,000 people chose from 20 design
sketches submitted by four major Italian car design houses. While ItalDesign’s
sketches initially won the contest, Pininfarina was appointed to further
develop and complete the designs.
Labeled as premium products, both cars feature very
similar front ends sporting a chrome V emblem at the center of the grille, a
horizontal chrome splint that merges with the LED DRLs, sleek headlights, and
an asymmetric chrome element. Highlights of the sedan’s design include the generous wheelbase, long
bonnet, and horizontal body lines, while the SUV has a more muscular, sporty
appearance.
There’s no information on powertrains, but we assume
VinFast will provide more details on October 2, when both the sedan and SUV
will debut at the Paris Auto Show. That’s when the company is expected to
announce the names of the two models as well.
Following the world premiere, both cars will be
introduced to the Vietnamese public by the end of this year. Exports to
international markets are planned in the coming years but we don’t know which
regions VinFast is targeting.
VinFast is a brand owned by VinGroup, the largest
private enterprise in Vietnam. Besides the sedan and SUV, the automaker says
it’s developing electric cars, city cars, electric buses, and electric scooters
as well.
