Tuesday 21st January 2025

Check out the new GWM Ora 03 GT

Not quite an Alpine A290 rival just yet, but a step in the right direction...

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You’d be forgiven for not knowing about the GWM Ora 03, given it’s a small Chinese EV. And those that do probably know it as an Ora Funky Cat, because that was a much more interesting name for Great Wall to use. Whatever, it’s now freshly revised for 2025, a little more affordable than before - prices from £24,995 - and with a new GT range-topper that is at least moderately interesting. 

For £32,995, or just a few hundred quid less than an Alpina A290, the 03 GT is powered by a 63kWh battery with 170hp, so just 10hp behind the French fancy. Range is up to 261 miles, and charging is up to 67kW DC; for the Alpine, those figures are 236 miles and 100kW DC, with a slightly smaller 52kWh battery. On paper, they’re broadly comparable, though the GT does appear more of a cosmetic exercise than Alpine’s more thorough overhaul of the 5 E-Tech to make an A290. 

Nevertheless, those who like the look of the standard Funky Ca… Ora 03 should at least enjoy the GT remake. It gets a model-specific bodykit (bumpers, rear spoiler, arch extensions), 18-inch wheels, red calipers and a host of similarly coloured accents inside. The front seats massage and ventilate. Oh yes, and there’s launch control for the GT, which we’ll assume is a first for the 03, for when scrabbling away from the traffic light grand prix. A standard heat pump will help the battery on those chilly winter mornings; a pano roof that’s also included will be nice when the sun comes out. 

Like we said, a fairly modest rework of a small electric car, but everyone has to start somewhere. Once upon a time - as in a decade ago - fast Kias were cars like the Cee’d GT, and now look. As with all GWM Ora 03s, the GT comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile one for the battery. Pre orders are open from today, with deliveries from March. 

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[knebworth01]

Looks funky

[mikeyr]

What an adorable looking fish. Mean that as a compliment, it's weirdly cute. As for the car, guess we'll see. Have spotted only a couple of the Ora's around, don't know if they are selling better nearer dealers? Do they have franchised dealers?

[s94wht]

One of these in the work car park now. I was sceptical when the girl told me about it and said it looked like a Mini and a Fiat and a Porsche all in one, but when it turned up I saw what she meant!

[WPA]

Luckily it is not made by Kia

[enc]

I can see the Porsche resemblance at the front

[Ray_Aber]

WPA said:

Luckily it is not made by Kia

A perfect car - just for me and my dog....

[Dombilano]

Cunky Fat

[5lab]

the trouble this was suffering is that it is (afaik) the same as a e-mini underneath, but not cheap enough to be worth taking a punt on a brand who doesn't have the same backing and residuals.

as they've now dropped the price, some of that might change

[Maxus]

I suspect we'll see a few more Alpine A290s on the road than these. Can't believe they are similar in price.

The Alpine has a bit of style and substance to it whereas this looks to be a cheap Chinese car with some styling addendum.

I really like the idea of a R5 or an Alpine but no interest in this.

[Twoshoe]

I think it looks awful, personally, like a slightly-melted Micra.

[911Spanker]

What happened to the Funky Cat name?

[Gecko1978]

Twoshoe said:

I think it looks awful, personally, like a slightly-melted Micra.

It looks like a R5 you order from Wish

[FourWheelDrift]

enc said:

I can see the Porsche resemblance at the front

Have a look at the Ora 07 it's trying desperately to be a Panamera.





Then add into the mix cars from GAC, BYD, Deepal, Binguo, Wuling, Neta, Omoda, Wey, Maxus, Zeekr, Denza, Hyptec, Xpeng, Xiaomi, Dongfeng, Hongqi and go knows how many more Chinese EV manufacturers that are appearing on the market. But I don't hold out much hope for Renault, Peugeot, Ford, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, Lancia or Fiat being around for much longer if they come flooding in.

[Quattr04.]

mikeyr said:

What an adorable looking fish. Mean that as a compliment, it's weirdly cute. As for the car, guess we'll see. Have spotted only a couple of the Ora's around, don't know if they are selling better nearer dealers? Do they have franchised dealers?

In Bristol the dealer is in the same building as the Nissan dealer, they have plenty in the car park but I’ve only seen 2 or 3 out on the road

I did actually meet a man who had swapped a 5 series for one and said he quite liked it, mainly because it cost him nothing to run when claiming back business miles and charging at home.

[sherman]

My neighbour has one of these. (Not the new GT)
It has an obvious electrical fault as the alarm goes off for no disernable reason at least 4-5 times a day.
They open and close it using the key fob and it seems to solve the problem for the next few hours.

[Truckosaurus]

FourWheelDrift said:

....But I don't hold out much hope for Renault, Peugeot, Ford, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, Lancia or Fiat being around for much longer if they come flooding in.

I wonder if the likes of Stellantis will sell off the rights to some of their brands to the Chinese to use, similar to MG.

This Ora seems poor value if it is costly a similar amount to the Alpine.

[Turbobanana]

WPA said:

Luckily it is not made by Kia

We'd all adore that.

[smilo996]

A less talented Alfa Romeo Mito.

[theicemario]

Quite like these. Funky looking things, much more interesting to look at than the usual crossover blob identikits.

[fantheman80]

Are these the lot who have a tie up with MINI? That steering wheel and even the GT badge on the rear spoiler spat seems to have taken inspiration from the GP3