VW’s Concerns Be Damned, China’s ORA Copy Cats To Go On Sale In March

Great Wall’s ORA Ballet and Punk Cat will officially launch in China on March 30, despite VW’s lawyers previously stating they were looking into it given its similarities to the iconic Beetle.

The first production images of the ORA Ballet and Punk Cat emerged in December. The former is a more ‘feminine’ version of the Punk Cat unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show last April and obviously takes significant design inspiration from the Beetle.

When the Punk Cat was first showcased, VW acknowledged it was investigating the matter “with regard to any violations of utility model or design rights of Volkswagen AG and reserves the right to take any necessary legal steps.” It is unclear if the automaker will pursue any legal action.

The overall shape of both the Punk Cat and Ballet Cat is obviously very similar to the classic Beetle. The Ballet Cat stands out because it has horse-shoe shaped headlights and taillights rather than the circular lights of the Punk Cat.

CONFIRMED: ORA Balet Cat to be launched in China on 30 March

Preliminary specs

– 5-door hatch
– L/W/H/WB: 4401/1880/1633/2750mm
– Weight: 1780kg
– front e-motor 126kW/250Nm, FWD
– Battery: 47.8kWh (LFP), 59.1kWh (Li-ion)
– Max range: >500km
– Top speed: 155km/[email protected] pic.twitter.com/G5oABVpYmr

— Greg Kable (@GregKable) January 27, 2022

Technical specifications released about the two models reveal that it is 4,401 mm (173 inches) long, 1,867 mm (73.5 inches) wide, and 1,633 mm (64.2 inches) tall with a 2,750 mm (108 inch) wheelbase. It will be offered with just a single electric motor and two different battery packs. Entry-level models will feature a 47.8 kWh pack while higher-end models will have a 59.1 kWh pack. Both will power an electric motor with 169 hp, allowing the Ballet Cat to hit a top speed of 96 mph (155 km/h).

Local pricing details have yet to be confirmed.

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