Chinese cars have come in for a lot of praise recently after years of being ridiculed by the European and US competition.
Positive reviews centre around China’s new design identity which seems to have moved carmakers away from cloning the mainstream, yet the Ora 07 is a throwback to the days of blatant copycats.
The Chinese appear to have have modelled their large pug-faced saloon largely on the Porsche Panamera, but it is still a weird mix to European eyes.
There are differences though. The original is only available as a plug-in hybrid and otherwise as a pure combustion engine, while the Ora is purely electric.
And while the Porsche price at home in Europe list starts at €110,900, that of the Ora 07 ends at €53,490 and starts at just €41,990.
Round headlights, widely-flared wings and a rear end in a sweeping arc – the Porsche-like visuals are unmistakable. The tail lights, also hint at the first Bentley Continental.
But Ora sees the 07 primarily as a competitor to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 saloon. At 4.07 metres, it is exactly the same length and stands out much more with its streamlined design.
The entry-level Ora 07 comes with an electric motor with 150 kW/204 hp on the front axle while the range-topper has two engines with 300 kW/408 hp and also all-wheel drive.
When it comes to driving, the Chinese is also closer to the more bland Korean style than the Stuttgart product but first the plus points: The steering is precise and fairly direct by Asian standards.
And on the test track at the headquarters of the parent company Great Wall Motors in Baoding, the suspension made a good appearance, absorbing bumps cleanly and giving the driver a good feel for the frequently-changing road surface.
But even though it bounds from a standstill like a Porsche and reaches 100 km/h in a mere 4.5 seconds – the Ora 07 is not really committed and engaging. It takes a more leisurely approach.
It offers an altogether calmer panorama and feels more at home on long stretches with lots of straights rather than on short, twisty trips into the mountains. So, like so many cars from China, the would-be Panamera is made less for driving than for arriving.
The destination can be far off though since with battery sizes of 67 and 86 kWh, the Gran Turismo from the Far East offers a range of up to 520 kilometres.
Unfortunately, patience is also required at the end of the journey. When it comes to charging, the Chinese car is sluggish. With 11 kW on alternating current and up to 88 kW on direct current, it is among the slowest in this league. However, the word in Baoding is that things will improve soon.
In contrast, the interior, the ambience and the equipment are faultless. The cabin with the centre console also borrowed from Porsche protrudes diagonally between the seats, and the instruments are elegantly lined with imitation leather. The surfaces also feel good and almost every movement is performed by an electric motor.
The cabin is nicely illuminated and, with its large panoramic roof, appears to be more airy than it actually is considering the wheelbase of 2.87 metres.
At the front, occupants sit in sporty armchairs, which can be ordered with air-conditioning and massage features on request. There is a comfortable bench in the back and the boot has a capacity of 333 to 1,045 litres.
The Ora also provides customers with plenty of electronic assistance, although it can be exasperatingly vigilant at times, unleashing beeps and flashes galore.
There is a wide range of entertainment on the large touchscreen and good voice control with artificial intelligence. And they even fit a head-up display as standard.
Depending on your perspective, this car looks bold or just odd, but under the sloping exterior it is a serious electric car that offers a lot of substance for an attractive price.
The Ora 07 is not alone in doing this and while its kid brother, the 03, may still be able to score points as a cuddly oddball amid small cars, this leaves the 07 Gran Turismo with only the role of being an exotic for Generation E – or an inexpensive Porsche parody.
