Vietnamese carmaker VinFast has released
pricing and additional details for its limited-run President SUV, which is
listed at 4.6 billion VND, or around US$ 198k. Based on the prior
VinFast LUX SA2.0, the President is capped at 500 units, and the first 100
customers to place their orders will get a special price of 3.8 billion VND (US$ 164,000) according to the company.
While the SA2.0 is powered by a 2.0 litre
turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the President packs something altogether
more aspirational, namely a 6.2 litre V8 engine that produces 420 hp and 624 Nm
of torque. This is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time
4WD, and can propel the President along the 0-100 km/h acceleration benchmark
in 6.8 seconds, and to a top speed of nearly 300 km/h, VinFast claims.
Keeping the luxury SUV’s performance in
check is a host of safety systems including brake assist, ABS, EBD, stability
control, traction control, hill descent control, hill start assist and
roll-over mitigation, while further driver assistance includes blind spot
warning, lane departure warning and a 360-degree camera system. Six airbags
round up the passive safety kit list.
The President wears a rather sporty
exterior, with a bonnet scoop near the front of the panel, while the front
bumper features large air intakes. Customers can specify the colour of the
logo, roof rails, running boards, door exterior garnish and front and rear bumper
trim pieces from a choice of gold, copper bronze, gunmetal or silver.
The President is claimed to offer
exceptional space from a segment-leading wheelbase of 3,133 mm, which isn’t
far-fetched – this measure is longer than that of the BMW X7, which sports a
wheelbase of 3,105 mm. Space for occupants is a primary consideration here, as
VinFast notes that the President has been given wide door openings and a second
row of seats that has been enlarged to its maximum.
The roof gets large, UV-resistant panoramic
glass sections, and the running boards have been designed to offer easier
access up into the cabin, says VinFast. Meanwhile, armrests in the second row
include cup holders, and the interior also features a wireless device charging
pad and USB connectivity.
Premium Nappa leather is used for seat
upholstery throughout the President’s cabin, and can include a new Cotton Beige
leather colour option, as well as the choice of made-in-Italy wood veneer. As
natural woods are used, each example of wood trim will have its own distinct
grain, and therefore no two units of the President will be exactly alike, thus
‘ensuring the exclusivity of each car’. Interior equipment in the President
also includes a central seven-inch multi-function display within the driver’s
instrumentation panel, while infotainment is handled by a 12.3-inch screen,
while audio is handled by a high-end 13-speaker setup, according to the
company.
The exterior colour palette for the
VinFast President includes Sunset (orange), Deep Ocean (dark green), Gun Metal,
Competition Red and Purple Rain. Additionally, customers for each of the 500
units exclusively for the Vietnamese market can select from a further 18
customised colours “according to their preferences, personalities and feng shui
requirements,” says VinFast. The President SUV is on display at showrooms and
dealers in Vietnam, and customers can place orders for the vehicle from today.
