This Retro Futuristic Chinese EV Is Just A Concept, But We Want One

The Great Wall Ora Futura is a cute and attractive departure from the company's mainstay of SUVs
This Retro Futuristic Chinese EV Is Just A Concept, But We Want One

Here in the UK, you’ve probably only heard of Great Wall Motors thanks to the cheap and cheerful Steed pick-up. It’s a huge company, though, which shifts around a million vehicles a year and is mostly known in its native China for an SUV-heavy line-up.

There are signs that the company’s focus might pivot slightly away from the high-riders, though, one of which is the Ora Futura. Isn’t it delightful? It’s like a softer, classier Ford Mustang from an alternate universe, with a modern grille and headlight combo matched with retro touches like cream and chrome wheels, front spotlights and shiny bullet-shaped mirrors.

Image via Ora/Weibo
Image via Ora/Weibo

Inside, the retro-futurism is turned up even further. The cabin is a sea of cream leather and chrome trim, with a steering wheel that looks like it’s been lifted straight off a car built in the 1960s. These classical touches are matched with modern features like a tablet infotainment screen and a mobile phone charger.

We know precious little about the Futura - it was hard enough tracking down the official images seen above. Details of its plug-in powertrain are not forthcoming, although according to Electric Vehicle Web, the car sits on Great Wall’s ‘Lemon’ platform. This new vehicle architecture has been launched alongside two other platforms called, erm, ‘Tank’ and ‘Coffee Intelligence’.

Image by Mark Andrews
Image by Mark Andrews

Former Land Rover man Phil Simmons - who joined Great Wall a couple of years ago - is behind the design, and the Mustang was indeed an influence. It’s unclear if it’ll go any further than the concept stage, but other than the steering wheel and the tiny mirrors, there doesn’t look to be much on the Future that’d need to change to make the car a production reality.

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Comments

DG65425

Rear - Volga 3110
Interior - Mercedes
Front - sort of Volga 21

09/30/2020 - 11:18 |
10 | 0
Markus Walker

In reply to by DG65425

front reminds of Trabant mixed with Lada

09/30/2020 - 22:15 |
2 | 2
Anonymous

That is one fantastic looking thing, except from the front.

09/30/2020 - 12:09 |
8 | 4
Anonymous

Take note, BMW.

This is how you do a big grille

09/30/2020 - 12:14 |
4 | 2
Wheel Nuts

Looks a bit too tall and bulky from the outside, but otherwise it is an interesting design and the interior looks great.

09/30/2020 - 15:10 |
2 | 0

Tall and bulky makes sense given the Chinese market. They love physically large cars, which is why Luxury Minivans, of all things, are seen as status symbols.

09/30/2020 - 16:18 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Volga vibe is strong with this one. I like it, I think it looks great.

09/30/2020 - 15:57 |
2 | 0
Myrmeko (#CTSquad)

Chinese brands really know how to pull of those retromodern designs.

09/30/2020 - 16:50 |
4 | 2
Mr. Kei (A Random Corolla) (ZoomZoomer32) (Käfer für i

I’m really into these EV retro-styled cars, like the Nobe

09/30/2020 - 17:22 |
0 | 0
Evan Smith 1

You don’t want one. It’s from China. It’ll break easily like everything else they make and come pre-infected with coronavirus.

09/30/2020 - 23:01 |
2 | 2

Bruv, I can smell your bullshit halfway across the globe

10/01/2020 - 03:09 |
2 | 2
Anonymous

The front end is giving me ford vibes, and i have no clue why.

10/02/2020 - 14:28 |
0 | 0