Vietnam’s cute electric Suzuki Jimny look-a-like unveiled

The Suzuki Jimny four-wheel-drive has a new, pint-sized – and battery-powered – look-a-like from Vietnam.

Built by VinFast – a start-up car maker owned by Vietnam's richest man, billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong – the VF3 is a city-sized electric car due in Vietnamese showrooms next year.

And while it was likely not developed as a Suzuki Jimny rival, its boxy styling and compact two-door proportions are reminiscent of one.

The VF3 – designed for, and sold only in Vietnam – measures 3114mm long, or half a metre shorter than the Suzuki Jimny sold in Australia, and 450mm shorter than a Fiat 500 city hatch.

It is even smaller than 3395mm-long Suzuki Jimny 4WDs designed to fit into Japan's category of 'kei cars' – pint-sized vehicles eligible for tax and insurance breaks – which have shorter bumpers and no wheel-arch flares.

Despite its size, VinFast claims there is room inside for five passengers.

The Vietnamese car maker highlights the VF3's blocky shape, "ample" ground clearance, 16-inch black wheels, and square headlights, as well as a minimalist interior with a two-spoke steering wheel, digital instrument display (but no central infotainment screen), and few physical controls.

No mechanical specifications are given beyond mention of "an electric motor and battery that offer an impressive travel distance".

The VinFast VF3 – the smallest model in the start-up's electric-car range – is due to open for orders in Vietnam (where it will be exclusively sold) this September ahead of first deliveries between July and September next year.