What The Punk Cat? A Four-Door Electric Beetle Debuts In China But It’s Not Made By VW

Great Wall’s ORA has officially revealed its electric Beetle clone while also announcing its name, the ‘Punk Car’ – no comment. [Updated 4/19/2021]

When Volkswagen killed the Beetle in 2019, rumors suggested the icon could eventually be reborn as a four-door electric vehicle with retro styling cues.

Great Wall’s newly formed ORA brand seems to have taken that idea and run with it, as they’ll use the Shanghai Auto Show to introduce this cloned curiosity.

As you can see, the model is clearly inspired by the classic Beetle as it has a rounded hood and circular headlights. The knockoff design doesn’t stop there as the car also sports Beetle-like bumpers and a familiar greenhouse. The Beetle theme continues out back, but the rear end is decidedly more modern than the original.

Even the interior draws inspiration from the Beetle as the steering wheel is a modern copy of the one used by Volkswagen. However, that’s where the similarities end as the EV has turbine-style air vents and a widescreen infotainment system.

Little else is known about the Punk Cat, but Autohome said the company referred to it as a “time shuttle” that will give owners a sense of “nostalgia.” Car News China also noted ORA’s parent company, Great Wall Motors, has signed a joint venture with BMW to build future MINIs in China. They’ll be based on ORA platforms, so it’s conceivable there could be ‘Beetle-based’ MINIs.

Also Read: ORA Good Cat Is An Oddly Named Chinese EV That Sorta Looks Like A Mini Porsche

While ORA might not ring a bell, their first model came out in 2018 and they’re not above cloning automobiles from famous brands. Besides the faux Beetle, the company offers the R1 Black Cat which is part Smart ForFour and part Honda E. ORA also sells a Scion xB-like R2 White Cat, and an es11 Good Cat which looks like a first-generation Nissan Leaf mixed with Porsche and MINI styling cues.

For all the latest stories from the Shanghai Auto Show, head to our dedicated hub here.