Chinese giant Great Wall Motors debuts two European-focused models
Chinese behemoth Great Wall Motors has retured to Europe, showing off two very different models at IAA in Munich – the Ora Cat Concept and Wey Coffee 01
Chinese brand Great Wall Motor (GWM) has returned to Europe with a brace of good-looking motors under its Wey and Ora brands that will be sold, at least to start with, to the German market.
Of the two models on show at 2021 IAA Mobility show in Munich, the Ora Cat is the most distinctive. A pure EV, it comes accompanied by a bright and breezy press bumpf that is clearly aimed at creative, liberal urbanites who may not see the automotive world as their natural terrain. The concept makes great play of its ‘retro-futurist’ stylings to present a chic city runabout for “trendsetters who want their car to embody eco-conscious flexibility, individuality and comfort.”
So, we have a cutesy front with stretched ellipses for headlights that quietly echo the current generation of minis. The curvaceous profile features a rising waistline, which gives an impression of solidity and not a little charm while the wrap around taillights and bulbous back-end completes the vintage look.
Inside, things continue in a similar vein with striped seats and a two-spoke steering wheel, offset by the contemporary floating central touch panel. Despite the self-consciously retro appearance, the Ora Cat Concept feels like a more realistic, albeit conservative, proposition than previous efforts; the Black Cat launched in 2019 on the brand’s ME electric platform looks like an anime character, for example. This latest model is based on a new lightweight modular “Lemon” platform developed by GWM, the result of a US$2.6 billion investment in R&D. In terms of dimensions, the Cat measures 4235mm x 1825mm x 1596mm with a 2650mm wheelbase.
Wey is Great Wall Motor’s tech-led brand and much of its research is showcased in the Coffee 01 plug-in hybrid. Aesthetically, Wey’s design team has opted for a classically sculpted SUV of the modern idiom with curved accent and character lines. The roof line tapers down to create a dynamic form while a hexagonal chrome grille animates the front end. Ultimately, there is little else to get too excited about – compared to GWM’s Chinese-focused brands like Haval, the Coffee is somewhat understated.
But the story Wey wants to tell about the Coffee 01 concerns technology. The ‘coffee intelligence’ platform, for example, is an AI system that collects data that assists with everyday scenarios such as congestion, driving patterns and parking while offering an automated parking system. The software, meanwhile, automatically updates itself over the air. The Coffee 01 features 5G, Wi-Fi connectivity, face recognition, personalisation, augmented reality display and 14-inch infotainment screen.
Overall, both Ora and Wey represent a thoughtful first foray into the European market for a Chinese OEM that few people will be aware of. As such, there is a familiarity to the aesthetics of both the Cat Concept and the Coffee 01, that could play well for the company. Clues to how the brand arrived at this point come in the form of a joint venture with BMW, agreed in 2018 to develop renewable energy vehicles.
Headquartered in Baoding, China, GMW, which employs 60,000 people, has expanded its presence into Australia, South Africa, Russia, Central and South America, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. And now you can add Europe to that ever-growing list.
