With its feline charm, Porsche-inspired curves, and surprising road manners, the Ora 07 injects a little personality back into electric motoring.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are flooding into Singapore at an unprecedented rate. Yet, truth be told, many EVs, especially those from newer Chinese brands, can feel somewhat generic.
After all, with their weighty batteries, instant torque, and eerily silent drives, EVs often come across as household appliances on wheels rather than soulful machines.
But, every so often an electric vehicle comes along that breaks the mould, bringing character and a welcome dose of personality to the world of EVs.
The Ora 07, from Great Wall Motors (GWM), is precisely one such car.
looks that boldly split opinions.
You’d be forgiven for thinking the Ora 07 is something of a tribute act. Its styling certainly carries echoes of Porsche’s Panamera, perhaps sprinkled with some Bentley-esque flourishes. Sure, the resemblance might prompt accusations of copying, but isn’t imitation the sincerest form of flattery?
After all, there’s only so much you can reinvent a car’s shape after a century of automotive design. Besides, Porsche itself is moving away from these elegant curves as it marches toward an electrified future. So maybe the Ora 07 is less of a copycat and more a nostalgic nod to timeless design.
It is unmistakably unique. With vibrant, standout paint choices, sleek hidden door handles, intricate 18-inch alloys, and even a pop-up spoiler, the Ora 07 clearly wants your attention, whether you love it or loathe it.
The quirky, playful “exclamation point” logo might raise a few eyebrows too, but it adds a certain charm that makes the 07 impossible to ignore.
welcome to feline-inspired whimsy.
Step inside, and the car’s character shines through even more distinctly. Starting it up triggers an introduction video across its digital displays featuring a cartoonish cat and fish romance, complete with a subtle meow. Yes, seriously.
But before you dismiss this as purely whimsical nonsense, it’s worth noting that the Ora 07 isn’t really targeting traditional car enthusiasts or macho posturing. Rather, its playful persona might appeal more to those secure enough to embrace a car with genuine quirkiness.
If you can look past (or even enjoy) the feline theme, the interior is quite impressive. Materials such as Alcantara and leather adorn not just the seats but extend gracefully across the dashboard and door panels, while hard plastics are discretely tucked away from touchpoints. It feels premium enough to rival some well-known European brands.
And rather refreshingly, Ora has resisted the temptation to ditch physical controls entirely. The presence of actual dials and switches for climate control is a reassuringly tactile touch, although having one more for volume control would make it perfect.
We have to give huge props to the cleverly designed wireless phone charger. Its holster-like design ensures your device stays snug, even during spirited driving sessions.
sunroof drama with thoughtful design.
One particularly eye-catching feature of the cabin is the unconventional layout of its glass roof. Unlike most EVs with their standard panoramic roofs, the Ora 07 splits this into two distinct sections.
The front occupants get a reasonably sized sunroof, while rear passengers enjoy an expansive glass canopy stretching dramatically from their knees to behind their heads, right up to the tailgate.
It creates a uniquely airy feeling that dramatically opens up the rear space, perfect for passengers keen on cloud or star-gazing.
Speaking of rear space, the cabin has abundant room for a full posse of adults, and the boot, while narrow, is sufficiently deep for longer cargo like golf bags.
decently fast, but unexpected.
On the road, the Ora 07 is decently sprightly. Built on the unfortunately named L.E.M.O.N. platform, it’s notably well-engineered.
Singapore only gets one variant of the 07, and it’s impressively efficient. A mixed-traffic jaunt through town and expressways suggested a realistic real-world range close to 550 kilometres per charge, impressively close to the official 570km claim.
Power delivery from the electric motor is smooth and instantaneous, but sadly, it cannot effectively put that power to the ground, largely due to its front-wheel drive powertrain. Handling feels slightly dull too, thanks in part to the unresponsive steering rack and large steering wheel, which can be tricky to grip in fast situations.
Although, these should not put you off the 07. It’s designed more to be a city cruiser, and ride quality deserves special mention; even navigating uneven gravel patches, the Ora 07 remains composed and unflustered, effectively isolating its occupants from harsh jolts or vibrations.
While some premium brands opt for futuristic spaceship-like whooshes to give the cabin some life, Ora’s decision to offer familiar petrol-engine notes provides an intriguing sense of connection to traditional motoring. It’s admittedly artificial, yet charmingly nostalgic.
quirky yet capable.
In a market crowded with generic, interchangeable EVs, the Ora 07 is playful enough to stand apart, yet capable enough to be taken seriously. It’s not a Porsche clone, nor a mere novelty vehicle. Rather, it’s a thoughtfully engineered car with genuinely useful features and a charmingly unique personality.
Will the Ora 07 resonate with everyone? Probably not, particularly if playful feline themes or bold styling isn’t your cup of tea.
Yet for those willing to embrace its quirks, the Ora 07 promises genuinely compelling value. And in a world where cars increasingly feel homogenous, a bit of playful whimsy might just be exactly what we need.
technical specifications.
ORA 07
Powertrain: Single Electric Motor, Front-wheel drive
Power: 150 kW (201 bhp)
Torque: 340 Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 7.9 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 170 km/h
Battery Capacity: 83.5 kWh
Drive Range: 570 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 6.3 km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$203,999 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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