GWM Ora Ballet Cat: China's Female-Focused Beetle Model
Two years ago, the Chinese automaker Ora introduced the Ballet Cat, a four-door electric Beetle doppelgänger. Ora considers this car a tribute, even going so far as to call it "a princess car for all women who dream of crystal shoes at night." During a test drive around Beijing, we spotted another copy of the GWM Ora Ballet Cat, which once again proves that nothing is off-limits to the Chinese when it comes to copying.
Gone are the days when Chinese cars were solely sourced from copy stores. Although the Ballet Cat is a blatant copy, it's not entirely original. Ora, which is GWM's electric subsidiary, has been producing the China Beetle for around two years now. We had the opportunity to experience this plagiarized model for the first time. It's clear that the Ballet Cat was inspired by the iconic Beetle. Two-tone paintwork in pink and baby blue, traditional wheels, dainty chrome bumpers, a spherical shape with side fenders, and a hood that dips down are all reminiscent of the Beetle. The only difference is the LED headlights.
The German Ora importer, Emil Frey Group, seems ashamed of this retro car. Despite GWM securing the design patent rights for Europe, Frey has no intention of bringing the Ballet Cat to Germany due to the potential damage it could do to their reputation and the other models. Additionally, Volkswagen would likely receive a barrage of lawsuits if the Ballet Cat were sold in Germany.
The Ora Ballet Cat's shameless inspiration of the Beetle is not a new concept. Measuring 4.40 meters long, the Ballet Cat includes four doors due to its modern E-platform, which is shared by the compact GWM Ora 03 and E-Mini. This electric car comes in three power levels with a range of up to 500 kilometers. The motor, power electronics, and battery pack are located under the hood. Instead of the Beetle's four-cylinder engine, Ora offers a large hatch and enough space for the luggage of female passengers.
Homage to the Beetle
At the unveiling of the Ballet Cat at Auto Shanghai, the press release stated, "A princess car for all women who dream of crystal shoes at night but only drive a boring car when they wake up." Although Ora has minimal interest in men, the marketing is geared toward women. When you sit inside, it's clear this is a car designed for "elegant women." The door handles are deliberately lower for shorter women, the color scheme is sweet pastels, and the seats are slightly smaller to fit female bodies. Even the "ladies' steering wheel" is smaller to accommodate smaller hands. Other features include a vanity mirror in the sun visor and adjustable ambient lighting for applying makeup. For added comfort, there's even a "warm man mode." This allegedly heats the air conditioning, steering wheel, and seats for female drivers who may have "cold hands or physical discomfort," aka during their menstrual cycle.
However, while driving, the Ballet Cat transforms into a technology-savvy and comfortable car. Equipped with various driver assistance systems, it offers better performance than the original Beetle and handles corners with more confidence and predictability. The comfort level of the suspension is reminiscent of the old Beetles. But unfortunately for the gentlemen, the Ballet Cat is selling well in China at a price point well below €30,000. What it would cost in Europe is purely theoretical.
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Following the release of the Ora Ballet Cat, several automobile enthusiasts have noticed striking similarities between this Chinese model and Volkswagen's classic Beetle. In response to growing interest in the Ballet Cat, Great Wall Motor's subsidiary, Ora, announced the introduction of their latest Volkswagen-inspired model, the Volkswagen Passat-like Sedan, further expanding their catalog of Volkswagen-inspired models.
Recently, Great Wall Motor's partnership with Volkswagen Group has seen significant developments, as GWM has expressed a strong interest in incorporating Volkswagen's technology and design into their future models. With the Volkswagen Passat-like Sedan, GWM aims to leverage this collaboration and bring a reliable, high-quality vehicle to the Chinese market, catering to a broader consumer demographic beyond the female-focused Ballet Cat.
Source: www.ntv.de
