Ora Ballet Cat Review

It's only offered in China, for now, and is unlikely to come to Europe or the UK. However, for the equivalent of around £18,000, the GWM Ora Ballet Cat has already been bringing the Beetle vibe back to Chinese cities for two years. For the sake of clarification, Ora has created the Ballet Cat without any permission or support from Volkswagen, who’s  lawyers have muttered and harrumphed about the situation, yet appear to have chosen not to take action. 

Range, battery and charging

It is, of course, an electric car, and at 4.4 metres long it’s fairly short and has a silhouette very like the original, albeit with four doors. A modern skateboard platform - like the one we use in the Ora 03 and the new Mini Cooper E – sits beneath, with the option of either a 50kWh or 60kWh battery squeezed beneath the floor and a 169bhp electric motor powering the front wheels. That’s good for a range of 249- or  311 miles, according to the official figures

Surprisingly, there’s no fast charging for the GQM Ora Ballet Cat, which is pitched as a fashion-oriented urban car that’s marketed particularly heavily towards women. The fastest charging speed it offers is 6.6 kW, meaning that the Ballet Cat has to be on its leash (geddit?) for some eight to ten hours before it’ll be fully charged and ready for its next dance… 

Practicality and boot space

Despite the modern underpinnings, the Ora Ballet Car is barely any more practical than the original VW Beetle that it (unofficially) takes inspiration from. Yes, an adult can sit comfortably in the front, and there’s more space in the back seats – enough for a couple of average-sized adults. But there is only a comparatively small boot, and there’s no frunk (which is ironic, as the original Beetle did have a frunk, due to it having its engine mounted in the rear of the car). 

Interior, Design/Styling & Technology

On the outside, GWM Ora deliberately plays with the Beetle’s retro charm. This Chinese take on the VW Beetle is normally offered in contrasting pain colours, and it doesn't skimp on chrome. But, inside, it is a modern car with digital equipment including a selfie camera, voice assistant, and even a few extras that no manufacturer would dare to offer. 

The Chinese have no problem with clichés and gender-stereotypes, and the Ballet Cat is advertised very much as a woman's car. The adverts show modern princesses who are tired of dreaming about crystal shoes and boring cars, and to cater to the audience, Ora has installed a storage compartment designed for your makeup. A make-up mirror is fitted in the centre console, complete with Swarovski crystals and lighting, and female biology into account when it comes to air conditioning. 

If the driver gets cold, the Ballet Cat offers a “Warm Man” mode, we’re assuming to simulate the calming presence of a hug, for those ladies who are feeling a bit chilly and alone. That’s not even the most offensively sexist thing about the car, either. There’s also a ‘Lady Driving Mode’ which increases the sensitivity on the driver assistance systems, including the distance setting on the adaptive cruise control. It even enables a voice-controlled parking system.  

Motors, Performance & Handling

The little lady needn’t worry, though, there is no question that the Ballet Cat is comfortable and easy to drive. With the punch of the electric motor, it accelerates better than the Beetle ever did, plus there’s not too much body lean and the suspension is nicely judged to soak up the worst of the bumps in the road surface. Naturally, the wheel has been made a fraction smaller than in the Ora Punk Cat - the male-oriented equivalent of the Ballet Cat - to better suit those dainty, feminine hands… And there it is - I think I can actually hear the eye-rolling coming from Electrifying HQ … 

Verdict

Such is the blatant plagiarism here, that Great Wall Motors wouldn’t dream of exporting the Ora Ballet Cat to Germany or elsewhere in Europe, so you can’t buy the Ora Ballet Cat anyway. While feminists and anyone with common sense and some taste are breathing sighs of relief, it has to be said that there is a comedy charm to the Ballet Cat – even if it is verging on disturbing with its clumsy gender stereotyping. Without that, it might even be quite a nice car. 

Instead, the Ballet Cat will stay firmly in China, where it’s said to be selling extremely well. GWM Ora will, instead, prepare to launch the Ora 07 - a sleek saloon that’s the big brother to the Ora 03, and is suspiciously reminiscent of the Porsche Panamera.