ORA 07 vor dem Schlossgut Oberambach
Interested sideways glances at the traffic lights. Curious glances around passers-by when parking: there’s no question that the ORA 07 attracts attention. The design is unconventional. At the front, cuddly eyes wink like a Beetle (LED headlights in round optics), at the side and rear the Porsche Panamera sends its regards and the rear lights are reminiscent of the Bentley. The panoramic glass roof extends strikingly almost as far as the electrically retractable and extendable spoiler at the rear. An elegant yet sporty and dynamic mix of styles that we like. We tested the GWM ORA 07 PRO for the current eMove360° magazine.
Outside and inside: Stylish
The interior is also stylish. What looks like real leather with decorative stitching on the seats, dashboard and steering wheel is vegan plastic, which can be ordered in either brown or black. The most important functions can be controlled with the few rotary knobs on the seemingly floating center console. Everything else works – albeit not immediately intuitively – via the 12.3-inch touchscreen. Among other things, it is used to control the integrated map navigation and numerous vehicle functions.
Hello ORA, Hello Charlie: in addition to various vehicle functions such as opening the windows and tailgate, voice commands can also be used to announce weather reports or find nearby restaurants. Over time, the voice control system gets to know the driver’s way of speaking and adapts to their speech habits, automatically switching on the air conditioning when they say “Hello ORA, I’m sweating”, for example. It is also possible to rename the voice control to a name of your choice. Our test car is called Charlie, by the way. We don’t rename it and ask politely: “Hey Charlie, navigate us to the Biohotel Schlossgut Oberambach”.
How it drives
There is no start button to press. Once the key is in the car and the driver’s seatbelt is fastened, you’re ready to go. The front-wheel drive gives the electric saloon, which weighs just over two tons, a powerful push. We like the direct steering. A total of six driving programs are available. Wind noise remains low even at high speeds. Nothing rattles or seems poorly finished. With a length of 4.87 meters and a wheelbase of 2.87 meters, the GWM ORA 07 also offers a generous amount of space for up to five people. The trunk has a capacity of 330 liters – 1045 liters with the rear seats folded – and can be loaded via a relatively small tailgate – after all, the ORA 07 is a sporty coupé and not a station wagon.
In technical terms, the Ora 07 is based on the scalable electric platform of the significantly shorter ORA 03, which is also used almost identically by the new all-electric Mini. The front-wheel drive 150 kW/204 hp Pure and “our” Pro versions have a 67 kWh battery and an electric range of 440 kilometers. The top speed is 170 km/h. The 300 kW (408 PS) all-wheel-drive GT model with a second electric motor on the rear axle has a larger battery with 86 kWh and a range of up to 520 km. The top version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds and stops at 180 km/h. At 88 kW, the charging power is not exhilarating. It takes just under 36 minutes to recharge the battery to 80 percent at a fast-charging station.
Comprehensive and somewhat overzealous as standard: assistance systems
Intelligent Drive Assist, Lane Change Assist, Emergency Steering Assist, Blind Spot Warning, Front and Rear Collision Alert, Autonomous Emergency Brake Assist, Turn Assist, Emergency Brake Function, Lane Keeping Assist… The list of standard functions in the safety and assistance package is long. Practical for those who don’t like parking: in addition to manual parking, the ORA 07 can also park and unpark independently with the automatic parking assistant and recognizes suitable parking spaces. The automatic reversing assistant automatically reverses the vehicle up to 50 meters. When getting out of the vehicle, the Exit Assist (DOW) provides final assistance and warns of approaching vehicles or cyclists when opening the doors. Many of the assistants and warning systems offered as standard are useful and support the driver. However, some of the interventions in the driving behavior are somewhat unprepared and in some places overambitious.
Battery charging: Take a break…
The face recognition system (small camera pointed at the driver’s face) is also overzealous and is able to recognize signs of tiredness. As soon as the driver speaks, it suspects a yawn and advises the driver to take a break. Tired or not, we have reached our destination: at Schlossgut Oberambach above Lake Starnberg, we spend the next two days relaxing and recharging our personal batteries.
Our conclusion: the four-door electric coupé impresses with its unmistakable design, high level of quality and unbeatable value for money (from 41,990 euros (Pure), from 44,490 euros (Pro). It also drives well, were it not for the overzealous safety warnings, which somewhat dampen the driving pleasure.
