- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He Ar
Ora Next Cat. Ora’s main “cat”
The Ora Next Cat is an electric fastback introduced by the Chinese electric vehicle brand Ora (owned by Great Wall) in October 2022. In China, it is sold as Lightning Cat at a price varying from 26,000 to 37,000 dollars. After a successful presentation at the Paris Motor Show, it went to explore other markets. In all likelihood, Israel will be one of the first countries where the Next Cat will appear. The Next Cat is not just another model, but the flagship of the Ora brand, an interesting and reliable electric car similar to the Porsche Panamera. Its top-end version (which will probably appear in Israel) offers the capacity of 403 hp and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. The driving range is about 700 km.
According to Ora-Israel, as early as next year, Ora will launch "a large, nearly 4.9 meter long, Ora Next Cat electric sedan with all-wheel drive, two electric motors with a total capacity of 403 liters and a driving range of 430 miles (692 km)”. By the way, the Ora Funky Cat electric hatchback is already on sale in Israel.
Exterior
At its core, this electric car is an electric Gran Turismo, the exterior of which is often compared to the Porsche Panamera, but, unlike the Panamera, the Ora Next Cat has a 4-door fastback body: the rear window is static, you can only open a small trunk lid, decorated with a spoiler. Despite its ‘toy-like’ features, this is a full-fledged large car, 4,871 mm long, 1,862 mm wide and 1,500 mm high. The new electric version of the modular platform L.E.M.O.N. allowed stretching the wheelbase to 2,870 mm. The model has a rather refined appearance, especially with its frameless doors with recessed handles. All optics are fully LED. The wheel diameter can reach 18 or 19 inches.
Interior
The fastback is designed for five passengers. The interior looks stylish, expensive and sporty: digital dashboard screen is 10.25-inch. The screen of the media system is slightly larger, reaching 12.3 inches. The climate control system uses analog knobs. The list of options includes a head-up display. The entry-level version comes with all-LED optics, adaptive cruise control and all-round cameras. For a surcharge, you can get the Ora-Pilot 3.0 complex, which offers level 2 autonomy: it has 10 cameras and 18 radars around the perimeter of the body.
Powertrains
In China the, Ora Lightning Cat is offered in three versions. The entry-level version comes with front-wheel drive and one electric motor (204 hp and 340 Nm), lithium-iron-phosphate traction battery providing a driving range of 555 km (according to the optimistic Chinese CLTC cycle). The ‘intermediary’ version comes with front-wheel drive, lithium-ion battery and a driving range of 705 km. The top-end version is a twin-engine all-wheel drive car with an output of 403 hp and 680 Nm, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, providing a driving range up to 700 km. In all likelihood, the 2023/2024 Ora Next Cat will be exported in its top-end version.
Safety
In China, the Ora Next Cat has undergone an unusual crash test. The electric car was going at full speed with all safety systems turned off along the springboard, from where, from a height of 6 meters, the car literally crashed into a specially prepared pit measuring 40×10×1.8 meters. The creators of the Top Safety project, known for its creativity, love such tests. The springboard device made the car spin around its axis, which simulates the real situation of the car flying over the road barrier on the highway. According to the test results, the Next Cat proved to be ‘excellent’: the battery was completely disconnected from the power system to prevent fire, the tightness of the batteries was not broken, the interior was almost not deformed and retained space for passengers. All airbags deployed and the seatbelt tightened in time.
Eye-catching exterior, spectacular and roomy interior, rich equipment, decent driving range and safety… The car has everything to attract buyers. At the same time, the Ora Next Cat is much cheaper than the Tesla Model 3, but actually a class higher. What to choose if a new electric vehicle arrives from China? Now we don't have a definitive answer...
