Updated GWM Ora out of Thailand

The production facility where Holden Colorado and Trailblazer were made in Rayong, Thailand, is now home to GWM Ora manufacture.

That makes this model the first Chinese vehicle to be produced in Thailand for the Australian market.

It also introduces updates to the model, the most important of which is a new 58kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, developed by GWM’s SVOLT business.

The larger battery replaces the 48kWh lithium-ion and 62kWh NMC lithium batteries offered previously. For Australia there is no change in price at the entry end of the range. Whether or not Kiwis also take the new Thai Ora is a question we have put to GWM New Zealand. They replied that right now there are no Ora announcements to make.

The key update is to the base model which now has an improved driving range of 400km (WLTP). That’s up from the 310km of range the base model had. And it is only 20km behind what the previous Extended Range variant offered. However, the new battery adds around 130kg to the vehicle’s overall weight, slowing the 0-100km/h acceleration time by 0.8 seconds. The new claim is now 9.1sec.

Powering the Ora is a 126kW/250Nm electric motor that spins the front wheels in all variants.

Other changes across the range include a heat pump AC system, the addition of a USB-C charging port, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, and revised tyres. There‘s also the introduction of GWM Connected Services telematics with scheduled charging support. 

The base Ora Lux features include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, faux-leather trim, a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, and a self-dimming rear-view mirror. There’s also a surround camera, rear parking sensors, dual 10.25-inch instrument and infotainment screens, and a wireless Qi charging pad.

The MY26 GWM Ora goes on sale across the Tasman shortly.