New ORA Funky Cat electric car: prices, specs and walkaround video

The ORA Funky Cat: that is the new, official name of Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor’s zero-emissions family hatchback. It’s set to take on the likes of the Volkswagen ID.3, Renault Megane E-TECH Electric and Nissan Leaf when it goes on sale in the UK later this year.

We’ve been told more versions of the Funky Cat will be introduced in 2023, but at launch all models will come in First Edition specification. Prices for the Funky Cat First Edition start from £31,995, which gets you a 48kWh battery and 193-mile range.

Other standard kit on the Funky Cat Launch Edition includes LED headlights, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system, plus a choice of four colour combinations for the exterior paint and interior upholstery. Inside, the ORA Funky Cat features a pair of 10.25-inch screens – one for driver’s display and the other for the infotainment – much like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60. 

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Rapid charging is capped at 80kW in the Funky Cat, which is slower than its rivals from Volkswagen and Renault. As a result, topping up the 48kWh battery from 15-80% will take around 40 minutes. Maximum charging speed from a standard home wallbox is 6.6kW, at which rate the same top up takes between five and six hours. However, the Funky Cat can recharge at up to 11kW from a three-phase domestic or commercial electricity supply, which cuts the previous time down to between three and four hours.

The Funky Cat’s styling seems to have been influenced by several models from the automotive past, including the Fiat 500 and MINI hatchback, as well as the Porsche 911. At 4.2 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, it’s roughly the same size as its ID.3 rival. But the Funky Cat’s 228-litre boot is approaching half the size of the VW’s. 

In terms performance, the Funky Cat’s battery powers a single electric motor that produces 169bhp and 250Nm of torque, all of which is sent to the front wheels. As a result, ORA claims 0-62mph takes 8.3 seconds.

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When the car was initially unveiled in 2021, it was also going to be offered with a 63kWh battery, which increased the family hatchback’s range up to 261 miles. However, the smaller 48kWh unit was chosen for the launch models, presumably to make the car’s starting price more attractive. We expect the 63kWh battery will be added to the Funky Cat range when the line-up expands next year.

The ORA Funky Cat will be covered by a five-year warranty, while the battery gets a lengthier eight-year guarantee. Order books for the Funky Car First Edition will open in the Autumn, with first deliveries set to begin shortly after. Additional models, including a cheaper 48kWh version, will arrive later, with prices from around £25,000.