Porsche-inspired Ora Lightning Cat EV coupe launched at under $41,000

Last week reports emerged about the launch of Ora Lighting Cat, a Porsche design-inspired EV that promises to have the performance to match its design. 

Now it has officially been launched in China with prices starting at the equivalent of less than $A41,000 after local subsidies. This model will offer a single motor with 150 kW of power and a peak torque of 340 Nm.

The top-of-the-range model offers a 300 kW dual-motor drivetrain which can propel the Ora Lightning Cat from 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. Prices of this model are closer to $A58,000.

The Ora Lightning Cat will come with four battery packs supplied by Svolt Energy, a subsidiary of GWM. The battery pack sizes will include:

• 63.87 kWh
• 64.31 kWh
• 79.62 kWh
• 83.49 kWh

These will offer NEDC range from 555km to 705 km. Converting to WLTP cycle, expect the range to start at 450 km which is quite good for a four-door EV in 2022.

The new Ora Lightning Cat is longer than the Tesla Model 3 at 4,871 mm. It also offers an airy interior, just like its smaller counterpart, the Ora Good Cat. Videos of this EV have also surfaced on YouTube on channels like CARSbyML highlighting some of the exterior and interior features:

The Lightning Cat also comes standard with ORA-Pilot 3.0 driver-assisted systems that have an array of 28 sensors, cameras and radar. This will give buyers confidence and will meet many of the current EuroNCAP requirements to ensure it hits the 5-star safety rating.

With recent spottings of the Ora Good Cat testing in Melbourne and GWM Ora doing a road show in the UK during November, EVs like Ora Lightning Cat are destined for international right-hand markets. 

The Driven’s view: We look forward to seeing new EVs that appeal to broader motorists and I can see this selling quite well in Australia further accelerating EV uptake around the nation in 2023.