This Beetle-Inspired EV Just Got Faster Without Changing Its Strange Personality

You don't need to be a car enthusiast to spot what inspired the Ora Ballet Cat. The retro EV looks so much like the original Volkswagen Beetle that first-time viewers often do a double take. Now, four years after its debut, the little EV is getting a modest update for 2026.

Don't expect a new look, though. The rounded body, chrome bumpers, flared wheel arches, and curved windows all carry over unchanged. The biggest improvements are hidden beneath the sheet metal, where GWM has replaced the old 169-hp electric motor with a more powerful 201-hp unit.

According to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), top speed also climbs from 96 mph to 112 mph. The Ballet Cat continues to use a lithium-iron phosphate battery, although it's still unclear whether the pack itself has been upgraded.

Beyond the power upgrade, little has changed inside. The Ballet Cat still comes with a large vanity mirror, handy storage for cosmetics, and a selfie camera capable of automatically uploading photos to social media.

Warm Man Mode is back too. Despite its odd name, it's nothing more than a one-touch climate setting that boosts the cabin temperature for women during menstruation. For better or worse, the Ballet Cat remains unlike anything else in GWM's lineup.