GWM prices all-electric Ora for Oz

GREAT Wall Motors (GWM) has announced pricing for its Ora all-electric hatch, which is available for pre-launch order from today (February 9) from $44,490 drive-away, undercutting the MG ZS EV by $500 to take the title of Australia’s most-affordable battery electric vehicle (BEV).

First shipments of the five-door model – which is sold in other markets as the Ora Good Cat or Funky Cat – are expected in April. The vehicle will be known simply as the GWM Ora in the Australia and New Zealand markets.

Available with two battery options, a 48kWh unit offering 310km driving range (WLTP) or a 63kWh unit offering 420km (WLTP), the Ora may be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 41 minutes.

Power outputs are listed at 126kW and 250Nm, delivered to the front wheels, with selectable one-pedal operation. For comparison, the MG ZS EV sends 130kW and 280Nm to its front wheels and has a 320km claimed range.

The GWM Ora is comparable in size to the Nissan Leaf (priced from $50,990 + ORC with outputs of 110kW/320Nm and 270km claimed range), measuring 4235mm long, 1603mm high, 1825mm wide and with a wheelbase of 2650mm.

Offered in three grades – Ora Standard Range, Ora Extended Range and Ora GT (to be available at a later time) – the line-up includes a long list of standard equipment and “almost every conceivable safety feature” as standard, says GWM Australia.

The model is offered with a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating and GWM is said to be working closely with ANCAP towards updating this classification for Australia and New Zealand.

Standard equipment levels on the Ora Standard Range and Extended Range include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, dual 10.25-inch instrument and infotainment screens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless device charging, leatherette upholstery, electric six-way driver and four-way passenger front seat adjustment, self-dimming rear-view mirror, heated and power-adjustable wing mirrors, and a 360-degree camera system.

The Ora GT ups the ante with 18-inch GT alloy wheels, model-specific bumpers and grille, electric hands-free tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, red-painted brake calipers, six-way electric driver’s seat with memory, heated steering wheel and automatic parking.

Safety equipment across all variants includes seven airbags, rear parking sensors, auto emergency braking (with pedestrian, cyclist and crossing detection), adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, blind-spot monitoring and lane change assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane centre keeping, emergency lane keep, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and camera-based driver drowsiness detection.

The GWM Ora range is available in a choice of five exterior two-tone colours: Hamilton White, Sun Black, Glacier Blue, Mars Red and Aurora Green. Except for Hamilton White, all paint hues attract a $595 premium.

“The classic design language of the GWM Ora is what we refer to as ‘retro futuristic’,” explained GWM Australia head of marketing and communication, Steve Maciver.

“This is our first 100 per cent pure EV, and in size, when compared with some of the other EVs in the market, it does stack up well in terms of interior space.

“With this car, as with the cars built on our global modular platform, we have put as much active safety technology as you can get, as well as some of the best battery technology on the market.

“In fact, the whole car is assembled using the best possible components for efficiency we can find.

“This is one of the best value EVs in the market … we know there is a lot of movement at the moment around what our competitors are doing, but we think the quality and specification of this car, as well as the ownership benefits, offer our customers a very compelling proposition.”

Like all GWM products, the Ora range is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years of roadside assistance and capped-price servicing. The battery receives warranty coverage for eight years.

2023 GWM Ora drive-away pricing*:

*Drive-away price excludes metallic paint.