GWM Ora Cat crossover to sell alongside Ora hatchback?

A new model from GWM’s Ora division is a high-riding sibling to the existing Ora hatch. It features a 150kW motor, power supplied from an LFP battery.

But that’s about all we know so far. GWM is set to release this new electric crossover in the domestic market first. That’s according to a new filing with China’s Ministry for Industry and Information Technology.

The new Ora model features similar retro-inspired design cues to the Cat, like the round headlights and fuller surfacing curves.

Roof rails and added ground clearance via a raised ride height add an off-road vibe.

On size, it is slightly larger than the compact 4235mm Cat. The crossover is 4471mm long, 1833mm wide and 1641mm tall, riding on a wheelbase of 2720mm. 

At the rear, the newcomer has styling similar to the Cat’s with a clamshell-style tailgate and high-mount tail-lights. The latter are incorporated in the rear window.

Little is known about technical specs, other than that its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery is from Honeycomb Energy. Evidently, braking and energy recuperation are by-wire, using technology developed by Chinese company Feigetech.

In the domestic market, the crossover will come with a variety of lidar sensors, additional cameras and side radar sensors to support ADAS functions.

The new Cat, whatever name it takes, is expected to strengthen the brand’s position in export markets. Sales will begin outside of China next year. 

Whether or not it comes here is unknown but we have asked GWM New Zealand the question.