Electric car newcomer Ora has confirmed a new, bigger model is heading for the UK to rival big selling brands such as Tesla, Polestar and Hyundai. 

The new 4,871mm long four-door saloon was displayed as a concept car at the recent Paris Motor Show, but is clearly very close to the production version which is said to be on the way to the UK in the middle of 2023. 

What won’t be carried over, however, is the show car’s odd name. While we are still reeling from Ora’s decision to name its first model in the UK the Funky Cat, this new car is currently called The Next Ora Cat. The same model was shown at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show wearing the name Lightning Cat, and it is this badge which is likely to be used when the car goes on sale.

The Next Ora Cat is slightly bigger than a Model 3 and closely matches the dimensions of Hyundai's new Ioniq 6

The Ora features an 82kWh battery and two motors which give four wheel drive and an output of 402bhp. This gives a 0-60 time of around four seconds. The claimed official range is 281 miles, but the charging speeds seem to be way off the pace compared to rivals. While the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 can charge at rapid DC point at more than 200kW, the Ora can only claim 80kW - that's slower than cars like the Vauxhall Corsa and VW ID.3.

The exterior styling is certainly distinctive, and has been compared to models from Porsche, Jaguar and even Bentley from some angles.

The interior senses the occupants' temperature and heat rate to adjust the air con automatically

The interior styling is just as characterful as the outside, and the car features technology which measures the temperature of the occupants and even the heart rate of the driver. It can then adjust the heating and ventilation to ensure optimum comfort.

There is no word on pricing, but the Ora isn’t expected to be a low-cost alternative to its premium rivals. The company surprised the market with the £32,000 asking price of its Funky Cat, which is level with established European brands. If it follows the same policy with the Lightning Cat, it will have a starting price of around £50,000. 

Expect a starting price of around £50,000