The diminutive and kinda cute ORA Funky Cat was recently awarded “Best Urban Electric Car” at the 2023 DrivingElectric awards. What is a Funky Cat? Well, it’s a compact, four-door electric vehicle developed for city environments. ORA is the electric vehicle brand of the Chinese automobile manufacturer Great Wall Motor, and the Funky Cat is its first foray into the European market.
“One of the biggest surprises of the year, the Ora Funky Cat is a fantastic small EV,” says Richard Ingram, Editor of DrivingElectric. “Its quirky personality is only bolstered by the spacious interior, agreeable driving experience and flashy First Edition spec sheet.”
The Funky Car is small, but not too small, with a 2,650 mm (104”) wheelbase and 1,603 mm (63”) height. To put that in context, a 2022 Mini Cooper two-door hardtop has a 2,494 mm (98.2”) wheelbase and is 1,414 mm (55.7”) tall. Long story short: it’s a little bigger than a two-door Mini Cooper
A 48kWh battery produces 169 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated driving range of 193 miles. It will go from 0 to 62 mph in 8.3-seconds, and is priced from £31,995 ($39,157) with a five-year vehicle, unlimited mileage warranty that includes coverage on the battery for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Service intervals are scheduled every two-years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.
“This award is further confirmation that we’re on the right track to offer customers a great quality EV experience at an accessible price point,” said Toby Marshall, Sales and Marketing Director, GWM ORA UK.
The Funky Cat looks like a great option for city driving where space is limited. With an EV drivetrain and a range of nearly 200 miles, it’s a solid option for eco-minded automotive enthusiasts though will likely decried by some folks as an oddity. I must give props to ORA and the Funky Cat for showing the automotive world that being quirky is a good trait in a world of staid and boring cars.
