2024 Next GWM Ora: Prices, specs and release date

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Fri, 05 May 2023

• Next GWM Ora is a premium EV saloon aimed at the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6
• Boasts avant-garde styling and a rich interior
• Will have a range of over 300 miles – and up to 400ps for 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds
• Arrives in 2024 with prices likely to start from around £40,000

The next GWM Ora has been revealed – and it’s a striking fastback four-door electric car that has more than a hint of Porsche Panamera about it. The next GWM Ora follows the GMW Ora Funky Cat and has yet to be named, but more will be revealed in coming months.

While the GWM Ora Funky Cat is a small car rival to models such as the Kia Niro EV, the next GWM Ora is a more upmarket machine. Insiders are likening it to a Tesla Model 3 alternative, while other rivals will include the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Volkswagen ID.7 and BMW i4.

The next GWM Ora is already on sale in China, where it is known as the GWM Ora Lightning Cat. Bosses say it is a bold demonstration of the firm’s “distinctive retro-futuristic design DNA”.

GWM, or Great Wall Motor, is one of China’s largest automotive firms, with several divisions including the youthful Ora EV brand. After launching in the UK in 2022, it is stepping up its ambitions here, promising a growing number of dealers and a new electric car every year. The next GWM Ora is, well, the next car in this ramp-up.

2024 next GWM Ora prices and release date

The next GWM Ora is expected to go on sale in Q1 2024. Reservations have already opened on the firm’s website – and the first customer has already signed up, Honest John was told. The first 10 customers to place their reservations will receive limited edition concept art of the next GWM Ora, and a bottle of Champagne in a branded display box upon handover.

Prices for the next GWM Ora will be announced in the coming months. The firm will also reveal detailed specifications – and, yes, the name of the new car. As bosses are targeting the Tesla Model 3, Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, amongst others, expect it to cost upwards of £40,000 – and high-performance range-topping versions will top the £50,000 mark.

2024 next GWM Ora styling, interior and technology

The next GWM Ora is a very distinctive, avant-garde car indeed. Similarities to the Porsche Panamera are obvious, in its rakish profile and swooping GT-style rear. It has the same sort of rounded tail and retro front end, set off by Porsche 911-style oval headlights.  

The next GWM Ora has curvaceous, flowing lines. It is a clean and simple design, with strong features running from front to back. The rear haunches bulge powerfully and the almond-shaped tail lamps sit gracefully atop them.

The next GWM Ora’s most distinctive feature is its almost coupe-like roofline, giving it strong fastback vibes. This is enhanced by a bold glass roof that stretches the full length of the car, with no divider above the rear passenger’s heads. This creates a unique panoramic effect and makes the next GWM Ora very distinctive-looking from the rear.

In another retro touch, the next GWM Ora has liberal use of chrome trim, including the window surrounds, lower sills and both front and rear LED lights. The next GWM Ora also has an integrated rear spoiler, which pops up at speeds above 43mph. This further underlines the strong Porsche vibes.

Inside, the next GWM Ora has a surprisingly high-quality, premium-like interior. It is a unique layout, with a raised centre console that sits on a central spine, featuring metal-effect controls that wouldn’t look out of place in a Bentley. In the centre of the dash is a wide touchscreen display, with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ahead of the driver is a sporty binnacle similar to that in the Porsche 718 Boxster, which houses three digital displays.

The next GWM Ora uses soft-touch vegan leather not only for the seats, but for much of the dashboard and door trims too. It is supple to the touch and gives the car an expensive air, particularly with the plentiful use of metal-effect trim inlays to complement it. A sporty round steering wheel feels nice to hold and has the Ora exclamation mark logo in the centre.

The UK specification is not yet confirmed, but the next GWM Ora will be equipped to a high standard. The large panoramic glass roof will be standard, as will the vegan leather seats and multi-colour ambient lighting. An extensive array of safety assist features will also be standard, mirroring the approach that earned the GWM Ora Funky Cat a five-star Euro NCAP safety score.

Thanks to its space-efficient electric architecture, the next GWM Ora promises a spacious interior with ample rear legroom. Rear seat headroom should be ample too, despite the panoramic roof – and the light and airy feel it delivers will be unique in this sector. There are stylish rear air vents and USB charging sockets for devices, too.

Boot capacity of the next GWM Ora has not been revealed, but this won’t be its strongest suit. Due to the design of the rear, it lacks a hatchback, instead having a shallower saloon-style opening, similar ot the Telsa Model 3. This will limit the height of the boot and its ultimate carrying capacity – although the letterbox-style shape should offer decent length and width.

2024 next GWM Ora battery, performance and EV range

The final tech spec of the next GWM Ora has yet to be confirmed. However, bosses have confirmed it will have a WLTP electric driving range of over 300 miles – and it will be offered in both two-wheel drive and dual motor four-wheel drive guise.

The range-topping 4WD next GWM Ora will boast a vivid power output of around 400ps, combined with a healthy 680nm of torque. This, promises the firm, should deliver 0-62mph acceleration in 4.4 seconds – giving it Porsche-like performance to go with its Porsche-style looks.

In China, the GWM Ora Lightning Cat comes with a generous 83.5kWh battery, which gives a range of over 400 miles in its most efficient single-motor guise. We will find out later this year if this is the battery that’s coming to the UK, or whether a smaller and more affordable option will be presented here.

“The reveal of our next premium EV showcases that we are serious about our role in the UK market,” said GWM Ora Europe vice president Yao Fei, “offering customers fantastic quality products with high levels of specification.”

Ask HJ

I'm looking to buy either a new Jaguar XE or a Genesis G70 - which is the better option?

We are looking to replace my car in the next six months and need a bit of your advice. My wife has taken a shine to the Jaguar XE so we have been looking at a new one. I have moved away from diesel engines as my mileage is approximately 10,000 a year, but the Jaguar D200 MHEV on paper looks good on price and CO2 figures, while the petrol model has higher CO2 and appears less attractive as well as much more expensive to buy. Which option would be better? With car prices on the up I am keen to keep the cost to under £40,000 with regards to luxury car road tax cost. I have also looked at the Genesis G70 which looks a beautiful car, but the emissions for the petrol and diesel engines is higher than the Jaguar, but the purchase price a bit lower for a higher spec and comes with a five year total service warranty package. Looking at long term value and resale value, what do you think is the best option?

In respect of petrol versus diesel, the latter still represents the better option in terms of fuel consumption, although both options are likely to suffer from increasing VED rates over the next few years. With your relatively low annual mileage, unless all of your journeys tend to be motorway trips we would suggest petrol as the better choice to avoid any issues with diesel particulate filters. As for the choice of the Jaguar XE compared to the Genesis G70, the Jaguar offers the better driving experience while the G70 has a better ownership package, particularly in terms of the warranty and Care Plan. Residual values will mean the G70 will likely lose more money over the years, but this is partly offset by the lower purchase price. If trouble-free ownership over a number of years is the key, then we would go for the Genesis, but in all other respects the Jaguar is the better car.

Answered by David Ross

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