Electric GWM goes on sale in SA

THE GWM Ora 03 has finally launched in South Africa, with a starting price of

R686 950, making it the cheapest electric vehicle in the country right now.

The hatchback model comes in four versions, divided into two battery packs and three trim levels.

Across the Ora range, buyers can expect such standard features as:

* All-round LED lights

* Electric wing mirrors

* 18-inch alloy wheels

* Keyless entry on the driver’s door * Leatherette seats with electric adjustability for the front row

* A wireless phone charger, a surroundview camera system, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, ABS, tyre pressure monitoring, and six airbags

* A 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and an infotainment system of the same size that offers Apple CarPlay, with Android Auto compatibility 'coming soon'.

The mid-spec Ultra Luxury offers additional features such as an electric tailgate, front radar that automatically turns on at low speed, a panoramic sunroof, and memory functions for the driver’s seat and wing mirrors.

In addition, the front seats are heated and ventilated and offer massage functions.

The top-spec GT Ultra Luxury, meanwhile, comes with added features:

* Automatic parking * Traffic sign recognition

* Intelligent speed assist

* Intelligent cruise control

* Intelligent turning control

* Traffic jam assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and intersection assist

* Lane-change assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist and centring

* Emergency lane-keeping, front and rear cross-traffic assistant with braking, front and rear-collision warning

* A 360-degree panoramic camera and auto door lock and unlock when a collision occurs.

Performance

All Ora models have a front-mounted electric motor that can generate 126kW and 250Nm.

This allows the EV, which weighs 1.5 tonnes, to go from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 160km/h.

You can choose from five driving modes – Auto, ECO, ECO+, Standard and Sport – using a selector in the cabin.

The electric power steering system has three settings – Comfort, Light and Sport.

The Ora is sold with a seven-year/

200 000km vehicle warranty, eight-year/

150 000km warranty on high-voltage parts, seven-year/105 000km service plan, and seven-year/unlimited kilometre roadside assistance.