The first two models from a new Vietnamese car company, VinFast, are set to display the firm’s philosophy of ‘Vietnamese – Style – Safety – Creativity – Pioneering’ at October 2018’s Paris Motor Show. Exercising world-class design language that has been developed with the renowned Pininfarina design team in Italy, the two premium models – a saloon and an SUV – will be given their world premieres early next month.
From a starting point of exceptional proportions, designers from VinFast and Pininfarina created cars that feature a long wheelbase and elegant, inspirational styling. A long bonnet, classic boot and horizontal body lines create a symmetrical, sophisticated and elegant stance for the up-market saloon. The SUV presents a more muscular outline that endows it with a more sporting and adventurous identity.
A specific highlight of the debutant’s design language is prominent at the front of both new cars. The chrome ‘V’ emblem at the centre of the grille is confident and distinctively symmetrical. However, to the right is a horizontal chrome splint that combines with the LED daytime running lights to create an italicised F-motif, representing the second syllable of VinFast and a unique asymmetric flourish. From the central V emblem radiates the bold and lean crease lines that run over the bonnet, creating a contemporary look. It reflects Vietnamese pride in its first car manufacturer.
David Lyon, Director of Design at VinFast, states: “The strong, distinguishable design, enhanced by elegant lines and refined detailing, gives our cars several distinctive highlights. First and foremost, they emanate around the ‘V’ logo in the grille, which references Vietnam, as well as the Vingroup and VinFast brands. In conjunction with Pininfarina, we have carefully sculptured each body line to express natural beauty and dynamic characteristics.”
The styling of the VinFast saloon and SUV are also heavily influenced by the new company’s progressive approach. Breaking all traditional car development rules, VinFast gave the people of Vietnam the opportunity to determine the styling direction at the outset of the design process. More than 62,000 people voted, when presented with 20 design sketches from four world-renowned Italian car design houses. Starting with ItalDesign, they were developed and completed by Pininfarina. As planned, just a year since the public design vote, VinFast will present both cars in Paris, before introducing them to the Vietnamese public by the end of the year.
There is no word of them being made available for European, or UK, sales at this stage, as production will need to ramped-up considerably. Yet, VinFast has already established relations with a UK PR company and it is clear that its future plans will include exports to both left and right-hand drive markets.
