New VinFast Models Repurpose Old Bimmer Platforms

Vietnam-based VinFast’s first vehicles, a midsize car and SUV/crossover, will be based on BMW AG’s previous-generation 5 Series sedan and X5 crossover, respectively.

The company, which announced plans for the unnamed vehicles in July, plans to publicly unveil them at next month’s Paris auto show. Production is due to begin in about one year at a plant currently being constructed in Hai Phong, which is 70 miles from Hanoi.

Italian design firms Italdesign and Pininfarina submitted 20 concept sketches for the vehicles, with the winners selected via an online poll in Vietnam. Pininfarina worked with VinFast design chief David Lyon to refine the winning designs.

By using existing platforms and bypassing clay modeling, VinFast shortened development time from the initial sketches to final design to about 11 months. This includes "future-proofing" the BMW-platforms with improved pedestrian and side-impact protection tech to enable the vehicles to meet upcoming global safety regulations.

The sedan and SUV are expected to be powered by a variant of BMW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated with a ZF 8-speed transmission.

AVL, Bosch, Magna and Siemens are said to be providing engineering support to VinFast.

In addition to the BMW-based models, VinFast is developing a minicar based on the previous Opel/Vauxhall Viva. An electric bus being developed with Siemens also is said to be in the works.