V8-powered VinFast President priced from $225K

Anyone who had their eye on the new VinFast President as a cheap way to get into a 300kW-plus V8-powered SUV can park that idea.

The Vietnamese car company has just announced a starting price of $225,000, or 3.8 billion Vietnamese dong for the BMW X5-based large SUV.

And that’s only for the first 100 examples. After that the remaining 400 units of this limited-edition rise to about $275,000 (4.6 billion dong)!

Of course, the VinFast President is only available in left-hand drive in Vietnam, so even if you had a hankering to import one you’d face an uphill battle.

Consider it’s also more expensive than the sensational new BMW X5 M, which is priced at $209,900 and comes powered by a twin turbo 4.4-litre V8 making 460kW and 750Nm.

That’s rather more than the 313kW/624Nm outputs offered by the President’s 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated rebadged Chev V8.

Still, you’ve got to admire VinFast for the President. This is a company that didn’t even exist four years ago and among the first vehicles it decides to build is a V8 SUV!

We’ve covered the VinFast story in some detail since the ambitious start-up owned by Vietnam’s richest man burst on to the international scene at the Paris show in 2018, hired a heap of Aussie engineers, set up an Australian development division and was then linked with the GM Holden proving ground at Lang Lang.

VinFast currently has no defined plans to sell vehicles in Australia; instead it’s focussed on launching in the US with an EV currently under development.

Attached to the President’s V8 is an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive, which VinFast says can propel it to 100km/h in a leisurely 6.8 seconds and on to a top speed close to 300km/h.

Based on a previous generation BMW X5 architecture but rebodied in unique sheetmetal, the President also comes with enough gold badging to make a 1990s Honda Legend look restrained.

Other design features include the V-shaped logo, bonnet vent and dual exhaust outlets. The President also comes with a UV-resistant (handy In Vietnam!) panoramic sunscreen.

It’s also apparent the President is a big car. It has a 3133mm wheelbase, which is longer than the BMW X7.

VinFast notes the President comes in a choice of 18 colours so customers can customise their car according to “their preferences and personalities or feng-shui requirements”.

Interior features include a 7.0-inch multi-function display cluster, a 12.3-inch media screen, 13-speaker audio, seats trimmed in Nappa leather and a natural wood veneer made in Italy that’s unique to each car. The front seats massage, heat and cool their occupants.

Safety features are abundant: emergency brake assist, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, traction control, hill descent control, hill start assist, roll over mitigation, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, six airbags and a 360-degree camera.

“President is a product line that represents the high class and quality of VinFast, it is also our affirmation to the world of Vietnamese automobile production capacity,” said Nguyen Thi Van Anh, VinFast standing deputy general director.

“We want to dedicate this wonderful product and VinFast's top-notch customer care services to Vietnamese people who have a pioneering and strong spirit.

“That is also the reason why VinFast only produces a limited number of 500 cars to ensure this masterpiece is worthy of its owner.”