Designers slept with a picture of a Mini under their pillow
Ora Funky Cat. An exclamation mark as a brand logo, a swinging name and cheerful eyes: isn’t that a nice introduction? He may also come to the Netherlands. So time for a first test to see how playful this cat is.
It kinda looks like a Mini, how about that?
That the Mini has been an important inspiration is crystal clear when you look inside the car. The leather on the seats has contrasting stitching and the top half of the backrest has that stitching in a diamond shape. Very British. At least the designers had a picture of the Mini under their pillow when they came up with this car. On the dashboard we see a row of rocker switches, which are protected in aircraft style by a semicircular bracket. We saw that before, and in a Mini.
How should you place the Funky Cat?
The Mini style of the Ora Funky Cat immediately puts you on the wrong track, because the design with its voluptuous shapes and cheerful headlights resembles that of a compact car. But then you are completely wrong, because the Funky Cat with its 4.23 m length falls in the class of the Volkswagen ID.3 (4.26 m) and MG 4 (4.28 m). So one size larger. The price tag probably falls into the same category, if it ever becomes available in the Netherlands, because that is not yet clear. In Germany it starts at around €39,000 for the entry-level model and goes up to €49,000 for the most extensive variant.
What about the inside then?
You only notice how big that Funky Cat is in the back, because it is nice and spacious there. Two adults are fine and with a little good will, someone else can sit in the middle. There is enough head and legroom. You only sit with your knees raised and that is not nice on a long ride. The luggage compartment is unfortunately the victim of the spacious rear seat: it is downright small at 228 liters.
Copying has been limited to the design; the materials used are of lower quality. The plastics are hard and the chrome finish of the buttons seems a bit thin. Although the seats look very good, they are not particularly comfortable and lack some lateral support.
On the dashboard you will find a multimedia system that is quite easy to understand. It is pleasant to use and many functions can also be called up with voice control, such as opening the side windows or changing the temperature in the car.
What is the range of the Ora Funky Cat?
The Funky Cat is available with two battery packs. There is a version with a 48 kWh battery with which you should be able to go about 310 km. The other variant comes 100 km further with a 63-kWh battery. They can both fast charge, with a maximum of 100 kW, and they both have a 171 hp electric motor that drives the front wheels.
Does it drive like a Mini?
No, but riding the Funky Cat is definitely a positive experience. It is smooth and it enjoys going up a winding road. It is a pity that the steering wheel is very thin and the feedback from the front wheels is somewhat vague, so that you as a driver lack that certain feeling. The chassis can handle much more than the steering suggests. Because competitors such as the Volkswagen ID.3 are rear-wheel drive, they have the advantage in the city that they are more agile and have a nice short turning circle. The Ora has a slightly wider radius. Straight ahead, the Funky Cat is nice and stable and quiet, although we did notice some wind noise, but it is not entirely clear whether that was part of this specific test car or whether it applies to all Funky Cats.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl