ORA is Great Wall Motor’s standalone brand for new energy vehicles; its name references ‘Open’, ‘Reliable’, and ‘Alternative’. Designed with the concept of ‘Futuristic’, the ORA Good Cat is a mix of modern and timeless design, giving it a unique appearance. The Good Cat measures 4,235 mm (length) x 1,825 mm (width) x 1,596 mm (height), and sits on a wheelbase of 2,650 mm. Looking like a retro hatchback, the notable exterior features include the cat-eye inspired LED headlights with DRL rings, LED embedded tail light strip, and 18″ alloy wheels. Buyers can choose from either two-tone exterior colours i.e. Verdant Green with White Roof*; Hazel Wood Beige with Brown Roof*; Mars Red with Black Roof; or Hamilton White with Black Roof, or mono tone choices of Coral Blue, Hamilton White, and Sun Black.
The cabin is designed to maximise interior space, with a panoramic sunroof to help brighten it up. Interior trim includes a suede finish on the dashboard while the seats are upholstered in synthetic leather. The driver’s seat has electronic adjustment and in the 500 Ultra, is fitted with a massage system and a position memory system. The cockpit has a wide screen display made up of a 7″ digital cluster display and a 10.25″ multimedia touch screen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Further, there are 2 USB ports in front, 1 port on the rear view mirror for a digital drive recorder, 1 port for rear passengers, and a 12V port as well. Additionally, the rear seats have a 60:40 fold and can enlarge cargo space up to 858 litres.
In terms of driving performance, the ORA Good Cat uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor which produces 105 kW (143 PS) and 210 Nm of torque. Top speed is limited to 152 km/h. The difference between the 400 Pro and 500 Ultra models is the driving range and battery type. Like their names, the 400 Pro has a range of 400 km (NEDC cycle) while the 500 Ultra has a range of 500 km. The former uses a 47.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack while the latter has a larger 63.1 kWh ternary lithium battery (a type of Li-ion).
Regardless of variant, the car has 5 driving modes i.e. Normal, Sport, Eco, Eco+, and Auto for different driving preferences. Common features among the 2 variants are a single pedal control system (for acceleration and braking), 360-degree surround view camera system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Intelligent Cruise Assistance, Traffic Jam Assist, Intelligent Turning, Automatic Emergency Braking with Intersection function, Forward Collision Warning, Low Speed Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Centering Assist, Wisdom Dodge System, Traction Control System, Cornering Brake Control, Hill Start Assist, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Traffic Sign Warning, Intelligent Speed Assist, ISOFIX points, and airbags in front and front sides as well as side curtain airbags.
The Good Cat 500 Ultra also comes with an integrated intelligent parking system that assists in 3 modes of automatic parking. This higher spec car also includes Emergency Lane Keeping, Lane Change Assist, Blind Spot Detection, 6-spot front parking sensors, 6-spot rear parking sensors, Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, and an additional 2 speakers for the sound system (making it 6 in total). Furthermore, its headlight system also has a welcome effect feature, and its electric folding mirrors also have a memory feature.
“The Malaysian public have always expressed their interest and excitement for EV vehicles which was our main drive to cater towards their needs. Our local strategy and approach are to help as many Malaysians move from fuel-consumption vehicles to more energy-efficient vehicles. Thus, we have engineered this model to serve and meet the expectations of our customers for everyday use,” said Mr. Elliot Zhang, President of Great Wall Motor ASEAN Region.
“With its unique engine and features, ORA Good Cat is GWM’s first car in Malaysia that was designed with sustainability in mind based on our ASEAN New Energy Strategy. We aim to do our part in contributing towards a greener and more sustainable society that makes living better,” he added. “We also believe that ORA Good Cat can win the hearts of many Malaysians as we strive to deliver a product that meets the technology, performance, and quality of our customers’ expectations.”
GWM is also providing customers with value added services such as the 24-hour roadside assistance by its panel of insurance providers as well as a spare parts warehouse set up in Shah Alam. The brand currently has 5 authorised service partners and is growing its retail and service network. It is also working on partnerships to expand charging convenience and is also targeting to start local production later in 2023.
According to GWM, there were over 100 bookings for the ORA Good Cat at the recent Malaysia Motor Expo, and the first batch of cars is expected to be delivered in December. Launched in Thailand last November, about 5,400 Good Cats have since been sold.
You can view and test drive the ORA Good Cat at GWM’s authorised dealers in Glenmarie, Puchong, and Penang.
* Exclusive to Good Cat 500 Ultra
Keyword: The Latest EV In Malaysia: ORA Good Cat; Priced From RM140k