VinFast Is Working On A 616-Horsepower Luxury Sedan And I Have Questions

It’s no secret that VinFast didn’t enjoy the smoothest entry into the North American market. From examples of the VF8 midsize crossover breaking during the press launch to the bizarre seemingly-speed-targeting creep function that can force a VF8 to spin all four tires up a slippery hill in an attempt to achieve a handful of miles per hour at any cost, there just aren’t many reasons to buy one of these Vietnamese electric vehicles over the competition. However, things are almost completely different in the brand’s home market, where VinFast is gearing up to release a pair of luxury cars, including a 616-horsepower sedan.

While Americans can choose between the VF8 two-row crossover and the larger VF9 three-row crossover, customers in Vietnam get a far broader selection. We’re talking six electric scooters, one e-bike, a tiny van, an even tinier city car, and something for just about every segment in between that and the huge VF9 three-row crossover. Oh, and the brand hasn’t just made inroads in Vietnam, it also has a factory in India.

How has all this EV growth happened in essentially five years? Well, the Times reported that one worker at consultancy firm Tata Technologies Limited claims he “had been locked in the factory over a weekend as part of VinFast’s push for productivity,” while another “said he feared the vehicles had ‘critical’ safety faults.”

Regardless of controversy, VinFast is pushing ahead with another line of vehicles called Lac Hong, and they’re quite different from the VinFast models available on this side of the Pacific. Let’s start with the Lac Hong 900S, a huge fastback sedan with wheels seemingly inspired by Mercedes-AMG monoblocks. The toys on hand seem ridiculous, almost like a Maybach from Haiphong. VinFast claims there’s a limousine-style glass partition between the front and rear seats, a Rolls-Royce-style starlight headliner, and even a projector setup for, um, Powerpoint presentations?

Indeed, from afar, it even looks like an established ultra-luxury sedan because all the big cues are there. A large, upright grille with vertical slats, a proper old-school hood ornament, a flank the size of an infinity pool, and enough brightwork to floss your teeth in. Take a closer look, however, and some of the details are a bit strange. That surfacing on the rear door doesn’t seem to line up with, well, anything, the taillights exhibit a touch of walrus, and a small dash-to-axle ratio on something intended to be driven by titans of industry will take some getting used to.

If the styling of the Lac Hong 900S isn’t to your tastes, or if 900 is too large of a number, perhaps the Lac Hong 800S will have broader appeal. It’s a chrome-intensive crossover with the same sort of porcine silhouette as just about every other crossover, but it shares a great deal of gadgets with its low-slung sibling. Automatic electric doors, dual wireless phone chargers in the console, big slabs of wood veneer with gold-plated trims. Oh, and the important bits underneath.

Both the Lac Hong 900S and Lac Hong 800S feature a tri-motor all-wheel-drive setup with a claimed 616 horsepower. Curiously low for the combined output of three electric motors, but still not a small number overall. However, that’s not the most interesting part of these twins. VinFast claims they ride on “a completely new full active suspension system,” which should be able to level out body roll and brake dive, although details on whether it’s able to scan the road ahead for potholes and proactively iron them out remain scarce.

Still, VinFast claims that both these cars will go on sale in 2027, and judging by the marque’s rapid rollout of new models and almost strange commitment to the U.S. market despite 2025 sales of fewer than 1,500 units and a scale-back of its dealer body, there’s every chance they will actually happen. But will they be any good? Sure, the likelihood of competing with a Bentley Flying Spur or Toyota Century on merit alone is low, but even more established competitors one step below that are formidable foes. The current BMW 7 Series is as fabulous to ride in as it is gopping on the outside, the Genesis G90 is wonderfully elegant, and Jaguar’s still cracking on with its electric grand tourer. Only time will tell, yeah?

Top graphic image: VinFast