The Funky Cat measures 4235mm long by 1825mm wide and 1596mm high, making it a close dimensional match for the Volkswagen ID 3, while a wheelbase of 2650mm means even six-foot-tall adults can sit comfortably in the rear. The Cat is expected to ultimately be offered in four trim levels, all of which will qualify for the government’s £35,000 EV grant, company representatives have said. Each trim will be offered with a high level of standard equipment, making the Cat a viable rival even to compact EVs from established European premium brands.
LED lights are standard front and rear, as are 18in alloys, a pair of high-resolution 10.25in screens with smartphone mirroring, rear parking sensors, a 360deg camera, facial recognition and a raft ofdriver aids. A performance-inspired range-topper will be offered, bringing sportier design cues including bespoke wheels and unique colours, but there are not yet any plans for a higher-output powertrain to be offered.
An app allows various functions to be controlled away from the car, while over-the-air updates keep the operating system up to date. Notably, Ora is one of few automotive brands to highlight its operating system’s processing capacity, such is the marketing power of the chips which manage the cockpit and driver aid systems. It is yet to be confirmed how Ora models will be sold in the UK, although Autocar understands a hybrid physical-digital retail model will be implemented.
Great Wall’s ultimate goal is to sell 50,000 Funky Cats per year in the UK, with another model to follow next year and eventually building a comprehensive line-up comprising both hatchbacks and SUVs, some of which are already on sale in China.
Like Tesla and Genesis, Ora will show its cars in shopping centres to familiarise the public with the brand as it ramps up its presence in the market.
Can the cat cut it here?