Ora 03 (formerly Funky Cat)

I won't hold my breath that we'll see it here. That being said though, I don't mind the look of it.

Don't know, this could be one of those surprise big sellers, just like the MGs that are popping up everywhere in Dublin. Decent spec, a few grand cheaper than an id3 with similar size and range, and with Chinese EV production ramping up they could possibly have no supply issues (VW are having microchip issues, and parts were being supplied from Ukraine)

Few interesting details- has no 'normal' rear lights, instead they are all in the glass of rear door

Oh, and there's a rally kit available - no change to mechanics underneath yet but massive Sega Rally 95 vibe

ID.3 is a budget car / econobox too.

Surprised it is that expensive after incentives TBH. There's an €8k delta between the standard and long range models. Charging that much of a difference for an extra ~100km of range is a bit rich.

There are better value cars on the market right now that already beat it on range and price.

I do like the look of it though.

It looks like a fiat 500 crashed into the @rse end of a mini cooper. It won't sell well and will appeal to hair dressers who can't afford them anyway.

Getting Porsche vibes off it, cuteness of a Porsche 356 but the arse of a Suzuki Swift.

Why, because it's Chinese? Where was your high end phone made again? 😉

They are coming and they are taking over. Most of the cars we in Europe will be buying in 10-15 years time will be Chinese.

Its more competition on the market with a car that can be bought for 32 k....

Hopefully it will get more people into EVs on basis of those who like the styling deciding that *i need one of those*.

These are like BMW MINIs in around 2006 - they will sell on the "looks" and "gotta have one" factor.

Consequently I can see why Ora have priced this as they have.

I thought the BMW MINIs were ludicrously overpriced in 2006 and much more then this which has actual practical passenger space and 5 doors.

Won't be buying one though.

Totally agree. These could be the greatest car ever to hit the market. They will definitely sell every last one of them. The market the way it is now, has people foaming at the mouth to get into an EV. The MG4 allocation is already sold out, for instance, and there isn't even a demo car in the country yet!

This Funky Cat will be out of stock shortly after they start to take orders for them, and buyers will probably have to wait until next summer to get their hands on the second batch. 🙂

I wouldn’t place any bets on it, but the pricing is pretty steep for a subjectively fugly EV in the small car category. If it comes to the market very soon, I’m sure demand will see it sell everything falling off the boat. If they haven’t opened their order books by Q3 next year, I say they will struggle to sell as supply constraints ease with other manufacturers.

You'll be delighted to hear the Irish Managing Director for Ora describing their product as....

That is not what Ora’s about, says Edmond Kelleher, IM Group’s Ora product specialist. “Cheap and affordable are not really words we’d associate with the Funky Cat. The goal of Great Wall Motors with this product is not to have a Dacia-style approach: this is a quality, premium product. It’s already been shown to some of the residual value and second-hand specialists in the UK, and the comment that came back from that, from those independent assessors, was that the car’s quality is on a par with the likes of Genesis [Hyundai’s luxury brand].

https://www.irishtimes.com/motors/2022/11/02/oras-funky-cat-is-coming-to-jazz-up-our-ev-driving/

Prices are out already.

€32,000 for lower spec 300pro

€40,000 for higher spec 400pro+

Different paints and interiors may add another €1,000 or €2,000 and probably delivery as well.

Much nicer interiors available than MG4 and with glass roof and sun roof, but fwd, less power and a poor boot, and still looking at about €6k more than similar MG4. They're in id4 and Cupra born price range. And if course once you go over €40k vrt starts to hurt

MG4 is €27.5k

I'm with @Patser on this, I feel it's a risky move. Not sure if it's a good idea for a "new" Chinese brand to start competing with European and Korean incumbents which are perceived to be of better quality and have spent decades building up that reputation.

The open door is at the bottom of the market. Unless the Chinese can produce a car that is (slightly) lower priced than anything existing, yet better quality and with a significantly better standard spec. That's how the Japanese got foot on the ground in the 70s and 80s and the Koreans in the 00s and 10s

I think I'm just still holding out for the Rally version I posted on this thread back in May

I was interested by this but the price is almost 2X what it should be for a cheap chinese new entrant to the market.