The Volkswagen Beetle left US showrooms in 2019. In China, a company called ORA has been building its own Beetle-inspired electric vehicle since 2022 — and the 2026 version just got meaningfully more powerful.
169 horsepower to 201. Top speed up from 96 mph to 112 mph. New lithium-iron-phosphate battery. The Ora Ballet Cat got a real mechanical update for 2026.
What the Ora Ballet Cat Is
ORA is a brand under Great Wall Motor, one of China’s larger automotive manufacturers. The Ora Ballet Cat is the brand’s retro-styled model — a modern electric vehicle wearing a body that is clearly referencing the Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle’s rounded proportions, curved roofline, and circular headlight treatment.
It is not a replica. The Ora Ballet Cat is its own design with its own proportions and modern technology throughout. The Beetle influence is the starting point, not the destination. The result reads as a contemporary small EV with a nostalgic visual character rather than a period recreation.
Launched in 2022. A few thousand sold per year in China — niche territory. Starting price around ¥193,000, roughly $28,000.
The 2026 Update — What Changed Under the Skin
China’s MIIT filed the updated Ora Ballet Cat specs.
201 horsepower from the new motor. Previous one made 169. 32 horsepower more — 19 percent — in a small, light EV. That is felt in daily driving, not just on paper.
Top speed increased from 96 mph to 112 mph. The previous ceiling of 96 mph was the more limiting number — adequate for urban driving but restrictive anywhere speed limits exceed it. 112 mph is enough for motorway use without pretending to be a performance car.
Battery switches to lithium-iron-phosphate. LFP is cheaper to build, handles repeated charging better, and now standard across much of the Chinese EV market. Range figures for the updated Ora Ballet Cat have not been published, though LFP packs at this vehicle’s size typically deliver a workable urban range rather than long-distance touring capability.
Beyond the powertrain, the 2026 Ora Ballet Cat carries over largely unchanged from the previous version.
The Features That Make It Distinctive
The Ora Ballet Cat’s specifications are interesting enough on their own. Its standard equipment list is something else entirely.
A large vanity mirror is built into the cabin specifically for applying makeup while stationary. A selfie camera is integrated into the vehicle and connects directly to social media platforms for uploading. A function called “Warm Man Mode” heats the cabin rapidly with a single button press.
These are features built for a specific buyer in a specific market, and ORA knows exactly who that buyer is. The Ora Ballet Cat is marketed directly at young women in Chinese cities — the vanity mirror and selfie camera are not afterthoughts but deliberate design decisions aimed at the target demographic. The “Warm Man Mode” naming is an interesting marketing choice regardless of your take on the feature itself.
None of this is unusual in the context of the Chinese automotive market, where manufacturers often target lifestyle segments and specific demographics with much more precision than Western manufacturers typically attempt. The Ora Ballet Cat exists in a market category that has no direct equivalent in the US — a cute, retro-styled, personality-forward small EV aimed at a very specific type of city buyer.
The Beetle Connection
Original Type 1 Beetle: 1940s to 2003. First New Beetle revival: 1997 to 2010. Second revival: 2011 to 2019. Final Edition 2019 closed it permanently — no successor announced.
The Ora Ballet Cat occupies the space the Beetle left. Rounded body, circular headlights, nostalgic proportions adapted for a modern platform — the visual language is recognisable even without any Beetle badging. ORA did not attempt to hide the inspiration.
Volkswagen has not revived the Beetle and has not said it will. No Beetle-shaped ID. vehicle exists or has been announced. The Ora Ballet Cat is the closest thing to a modern Beetle in production anywhere.
Will It Come to the US?
No. The Ora Ballet Cat is not headed to the American market.
Chinese vehicles face substantial tariffs in the US that make importing and selling them commercially unviable at most price points. Great Wall Motor and ORA have no announced US distribution plans, and the regulatory and financial barriers to entering the US market with a Chinese-manufactured vehicle are significant under current trade policy.
For US buyers who want a retro-styled small EV, the Ora Ballet Cat remains something to read about rather than something to shop for. The $28,000 starting price in China would look different after import duties and the cost of US market compliance.
What the Update Means
The 2026 Ora Ballet Cat update is a real improvement rather than a marketing refresh. More power, higher top speed, and a battery chemistry change that benefits long-term ownership are substantive changes that make the vehicle more capable.
It remains a niche product. A few thousand sales per year is not a large number by any measure. But the Ora Ballet Cat holds a specific position — the only modern Beetle-ish car in active production anywhere in the world — and the 2026 update makes it better at being that car.
FAQs
What is the Ora Ballet Cat?
Retro-styled EV from ORA, under Great Wall Motor. Beetle-inspired shape, launched in China 2022, starts around $28,000.
How much power does the 2026 Ora Ballet Cat have?
201 horsepower from the new electric motor — up from 169 horsepower in the previous version.
What is the Ora Ballet Cat’s top speed?
112 mph in the 2026 update, up from 96 mph previously.
What battery does the 2026 Ora Ballet Cat use?
Lithium-iron-phosphate. Handles repeated fast charging well, cheaper to produce than alternatives.
Is the Ora Ballet Cat coming to the US?
No. Chinese vehicles face high US import tariffs and ORA has no announced US distribution plans.
What makes the Ora Ballet Cat unusual?
Standard equipment includes a built-in vanity mirror, a selfie camera that uploads to social media, and “Warm Man Mode” for rapid cabin heating — all specifically marketed to young female buyers in Chinese cities.
Is the Ora Ballet Cat a copy of the VW Beetle?
Inspired by it, not a copy. Different proportions, different platform, modern EV throughout. ORA never claimed otherwise.
Also Read: Dead Cars 2027: BMW Z4, Lexus LC, GR Supra and 18 More Models Gone After 2026
