Vinfast VF MPV 7 And LimoGreen Launching On April 15th: What To Expect
Vinfast now has two products on sale in India- the VF6 and VF7. The Vietnamese carmaker is now preparing to launch its third product here- an electric MPV that will be sold under two separate names, in two separate segments here. The e-MPV will be available in both passenger vehicle and fleet segments. In the first case, it will be sold as the VF MPV 7 and in the second, as the Limo Green. With days left for the launch, here is everything that we know about the upcoming Vinfast MPV.
Duality is the biggest highlight of the upcoming Vinfast MPV. The VF6 and VF7 are available only for private buyers. This is the first time that Vinfast is foraying into the fleet or commercial segment. This can be seen as a broader strategy for scale and market penetration.
The move to enter the commercial mobility space aligns with Vinfast’s previously announced plans top launch its ride-hailing platform, the Green and Smart Mobility (GSM), in India. It will likely use just Vinfast products and the Limo Green will play a central role in this ecosystem.
The differentiation between the VF MPV 7 and Limo Green will largely come down to features and equipment offered. The actual cabin experience will differ sharply between the two. The Limo Green will likely prioritise durability and lower running costs, while the VF MPV 7 will deliver a feature-packed, premium cabin experience.
The VF MPV 7 takes a completely different design direction compared to the VF6 and VF7. Instead of the sharp, sporty styling seen in those, it gets subtler styling with a strong focus on maximising space. It has a boxy silhouette with a flat roofline and large glass areas. Its upright stance helps in ensuring ample headroom inside, especially in the third row.
The front fascia gets VinFast’s signature V-shaped LED DRLs, split headlamps, and a clean, uncluttered bumper. Looking at it from the side, you wil, notice a straight window line and conventional door handles (no fiddling with flush-type units) and stylish alloy wheels. Highlights at the rear include connected LED tail lamps, and near-upright D-pillars. From some angle, the rear could invoke memories of the Tata Safari.
The Vietnamese-spec has a ground clearance of 170mm. The Indian version is expected to get slightly higher figures.
The VF MPV 7 and Limo Green are identical in dimensions. They have a wheelbase of 2,840 mm, and are 4,740 mm long. The width and height are 1,872mm and 1,728mm respectively. These translate well into usable cabin room.
The interior design will be minimalistic- like those of the other two models. The passenger version (VF MPV 7) will likely come with features like a large central touchscreen with a lot of vehicle functions integrated into it, automatic climate control, an electronic parking brake, Level 2 ADAS, ventilated seats, powered front seats, and more. The central touchscreen could also function as the instrument cluster. We will only be able to know more about these closer to the launch.
The Limo Green will not likely be as tech-heavy as the VF MPV 7. It will have a sharper focus on striking a balance between passenger comfort and overall efficiency.
From what we know yet, both the VF MPV 7 and Limo Green will come with 60.14 kWh battery packs, paired with a single electric motor that’s capable of producing around 201hp and 280Nm. VinFast is reportedly targeting a claimed driving range of approximately 450 km. The fleet version is likely to benefit more from a longer range as it would help in reducing down time and charging frequency, leading to more profits.
The VF MPV 7, upon launch, will compete with three-row rivals like the Kia Carens Clavis EV, Mahindra XEV 9S and maybe even the BYD eMax7. To give the duo proper positioning here, Vinfast is likely to come up with an aggressive pricing strategy.