Great Wall’s ORA Brand Coming To The UK This Fall With The Funky Cat EV

The United Kingdom is about to get funky as the ORA Funky Cat will go on sale this fall.

To celebrate the brand’s arrival, the Funky Cat will be launched in a “very highly specified” First Edition trim that costs £30,495 after factoring in the government’s plug-in car grant.

While the model costs more than the Nissan Leaf and MINI Electric, the Funky Cat First Edition features LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an available two-tone paint job. Other highlights include a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Also Read: Great Wall Brings The Cat EV To Europe, Will Launch In 2022

Staying inside the cabin, buyers will find power front seats with leatherette upholstery. They’re joined by a wireless smartphone charger, a dual-zone climate control system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a passive entry system.

In terms of safety, there’s an assortment of driver assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane keep assist, and a lane centering function. They’re joined by a blind spot monitor, rear parking sensors, a 360 degree camera system, and rear cross traffic alert with emergency braking.

Motivation is provided by a 48 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which feeds a front-mounted electric motor developing 169 hp (126 kW / 171 PS) and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque. This setup enables the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 8.3 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 99 mph (159 km/h).

Furthermore, the Funky Cat has a WLTP range of 193 miles (311 km). When the battery is low, a 6.6 kW charger can take it from 15-80% in approximately five to six hours. That drops to three or four hours with a 11 kW charger, while an 80 kW DC fast charger can accomplish the same task in around 40 minutes.

The company will begin accepting £100 deposits next month and the automaker noted their ORA Online sales platform is slated to be launched in August. Despite offering online sales, ORA said there will be a “big focus on physical retailers.”  The company also revealed additional trims, which will presumably be more affordable, will arrive in 2023.

In a statement, Great Wall Motor Vice President Yao Fei said “The UK is a key launch market for the GWM ORA brand and I look forward to launching our first product, the ORA Funky Cat, later this year. As a new disruptive EV brand, we will offer customers high quality products, with a unique design that will bring a fresh new look to European streets.”