When Volkswagen killed the Beetle in 2019, rumors suggested the icon could eventually be reborn as a four-door electric vehicle with retro styling cues. Great Wall’s newly formed ORA brand seems to have taken that idea and run with it, as they’ll use the Shanghai Auto Show to introduce this cloned curiosity.
The model is clearly inspired by the classic Beetle as it has a rounded hood and circular headlights. The knockoff design doesn’t stop there as the car also sports Beetle-like bumpers and a familiar greenhouse. The Beetle theme continues out back, but the rear end is decidedly more modern than the original. Even the interior draws inspiration from the Beetle as the steering wheel is a modern copy of the one used by Volkswagen. However, that’s where the similarities end as the EV has turbine-style air vents and a widescreen infotainment system.
Little else is known about the Punk Cat,
but Autohome said the company referred to it as a “time shuttle” that will give
owners a sense of “nostalgia.” ORA’s parent company,
Great Wall Motors, has signed a joint venture with BMW to build future MINIs in
China. They’ll be based on ORA platforms, so it’s conceivable there could be
‘Beetle-based’ MINIs.
While ORA might not ring a bell, their
first model came out in 2018 and they’re not above cloning automobiles from
famous brands. Besides the faux Beetle, the company offers the R1 Black Cat
which is part Smart ForFour and part Honda E. ORA also sells a Scion xB-like R2
White Cat, and an es11 Good Cat which looks like a first-generation Nissan Leaf
mixed with Porsche and MINI styling cues.
