Great Wall Motors has confirmed pricing for its new compact electric vehicle (EV), launching under the Ora brand this year.

The Ora Funky Cat will cost £30,495 (including plug-in grant), when it arrives in the UK this autumn.

The Chinese car maker plans to establish a small network of retailers in the UK, including boutique-style showrooms in shopping centres. The Funky Cat will also be sold online.

Great Wall Motors previously sold the Steed pick-up truck in the UK, until 2016 when it no longer met type approval requirements. The vehicle was imported by IM Group, which currently brings Subaru and Isuzu models to the UK. It also purchased the UK aftersales business of Mitsubishi, after the car maker exited the UK market. 

The Ora Cat’s compact footprint makes it a key rival for cars like the Mini Electric, Peugeot e-208 and Fiat 500e.

Initially, a single First Edition variant will be offered, using a 48kWh battery, with a range of 193 miles.

When the full line-up goes on sale in 2023, there will be two battery options available - 48kWh and 63kWh – offering up to 261 miles from a charge.

The car’s electric motor will power the front wheels, developing around 170PS. Ora claims the Cat can reach 60mph from rest in 8.5 seconds and recieve an 80% charge in 45 minutes.

The interior features a pair of 10.25-inch digital screens, mounted side-by-side, to create a wraparound area combining the driver's instrument cluster and the infotainment screen.

There's a high level of tech, including a number of advanced driver assistance features and the capability for level 2.5 autonomous driving. Other driver assistance features include lane-keeping, blind-spot monitoring and autonomous parking capability.