Update for the “Ballet Cat”: More power, same style
Great Wall Motor, which now more frequently uses the GWM brand, creates quite a few interesting cars. However, the Ora Ballet Cat model doesn’t quite belong to them. This car resembles the original Volkswagen Beetle so strongly that it raises the question of what the creators of the legendary “Beetle” would think about it.
Design that doesn’t change with time
First introduced in 2022, the Ballet Cat became one of the first models of the Ora brand and, undoubtedly, the most intriguing from a design perspective. It resembles a bloated classic Beetle going through an identity crisis, as if transported straight from the 1960s.
Ora has just updated the Ballet Cat for 2026, although this is impossible to tell from the outside. The car retains the original chrome front and rear bumpers, bulging wheel arches, and rounded windows. The main changes have taken place under the hood.
Technical specifications: More horsepower
Instead of the 169 hp electric motor, the Ballet Cat gets a new 201 hp motor. According to data published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the top speed has increased from 155 km/h to 180 km/h. The battery remains lithium iron phosphate, although it is not yet known if it was upgraded along with the motor.
Quirks aimed at women
The new Ballet Cat will retain all the same unusual features aimed at women as the original. These include a large vanity mirror specifically designed for applying makeup, small compartments for storing lip gloss and foundation, and a selfie camera that can automatically upload photos to social media.
“Warm Man Mode” and other features
The strangest feature of the Ballet Cat is the “Warm Man Mode,” and yes, that is its real name. GWM created this function for women to use during menstruation. No, it doesn’t whisper sweet nothings to them or remind them of their beauty; it simply raises the cabin temperature with one press to keep them warm. Somehow, this idea passed all the necessary approval stages.
Overall, the updated 2026 GWM Ora Ballet Cat remains recognizable thanks to its retro design but gets a more powerful motor. Despite the technical update, the car continues to spark controversy due to its specific features, which some may consider outdated or even offensive. This makes it not just a vehicle but a kind of cultural phenomenon that tries to combine nostalgia for the past with modern technology, albeit not always successfully. It remains to be seen whether this updated version will find its buyer in a market where competition among electric vehicles is constantly growing.