Vinfast has filed design patents for the VF6 and VF9 facelifts in India, offering a glimpse of the exterior design of the two electric SUVs. The patents suggest that the facelifted VF6 could get new lighting elements. More notably, Vinfast has also patented the VF9 in India, even though the flagship electric SUV is not currently sold here. While there is no confirmation of an India launch, the design patent filing could indicate that Vinfast is considering bringing the facelifted VF9 to the country.
- VF6 facelift sports new lighting elements and redesigned alloy wheels
- Facelifted VF9 includes a redesigned front end with vertical grille slats
Vinfast VF6 facelift
Redesigned housings for headlights, and rear turn indicators and reverse lamps can be seen
One of the most noticeable changes to the VF6 facelift in the design patents is the lighting. The headlight looks sleeker and appears to feature vertically stacked lighting elements, while the LED light bars at the front and rear seem largely unchanged. The lighting elements underneath the taillight bar, which houses the turn indicators and reverse lamp, appear to be redesigned. The bumpers also look similar to those on the current model, although the facelift could get redesigned 18-inch alloy wheels.
The design patent does not reveal the interior or any other changes to the specifications. The current VF6 features a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 8-speaker sound system, a head-up display (HUD) for instrumentation, 8-way powered driver’s seat, ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents. Safety equipment includes Level 2 ADAS, ISOFIX child-seat anchorages and a 360-degree camera with blind-spot monitoring.
The current Vinfast VF6 is available with a 59.6kWh battery pack powering either a 177hp or 204hp front axle-mounted (FWD) electric motor. It has a claimed range of up to 468km.
Vinfast VF9 facelift
Gets a lot of vertical slats in the front and rear
The Vinfast VF9 facelift gets a redesigned front end, with the familiar full-width LED light signature sitting above a larger grille with vertical slats. The headlights appear lower and more recessed, while the bumper gets prominent vertical air intakes. At the rear, the bumper gets new vertical detailing, while the tailgate and LED light signature remain largely unchanged. A new multi-spoke alloy-wheel design also appears to be part of the update, although the overall side profile remains unchanged.
In the international markets, the VF9 gets a three-row cabin with six- and seven-seat layouts, with the former featuring second-row captain’s chairs. Features include a 15.6-inch touchscreen, HUD, ventilated and massaging front seats, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control and a 13-speaker sound system. It gets a 123kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors producing 402hp and 620Nm. It has an all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup and a WLTP-claimed range of up to 626km.
The VF6 is already on sale in India, and it could come with a facelift in the coming times. However, there is no official confirmation regarding the same. It could command a premium over the current model’s Rs 18.19 lakh to Rs 20.09 lakh price range. As mentioned earlier, Vinfast has not officially confirmed whether the VF9 will be launched in India, but if it does, it could be priced at around Rs 50 lakh.
Prices are ex-showroom, India.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
