MOKE IS TO GO BACK ON SALE!
A new Mini Moke, updated but staying true to the original, is cleared for sale in the UK
MOKE International Limited has announced the return of the iconic Moke, with 56 limited edition cars being made available to signify the number of years since the Mini Moke first appeared in Britain in 1964. Order books are also open for Mokes in standard configuration, confirming the permanent return of the brand.
The original Moke was designed in the 1960s by Sir Alec Issigonis, the architect of the Austin Mini. It was first specified as a military vehicle engineered to be robust enough for deployment behind enemy lines by aeroplane. The original shared many components with the Mini, including suspension and chassis. However, it found its niche as a symbol of the 1960s, becoming fashionable amongst inhabitants of the most exclusive coastal resorts in Europe, the Caribbean, US and Asia. To this day it remains the beachhouse-towaterfront shuttle of choice.
The original Moke trademark was acquired in 2015 and is now owned by MOKE International Limited. The initial focus has been on meeting demand in the Caribbean market where the Moke is popular with both private buyers and luxury resorts and hotels, but now, following UK regulatory approval, Mokes are to be available for purchase across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Additional models will be launched across Europe, the USA and beyond in 2021.
The strictly limited run of ‘MOKE 56’ cars to mark the Moke's homecoming will be built for sale exclusively in the United Kingdom. Each is available in a choice of 14 colours, and comes with the front grille and windscreen rails in chrome, a discrete union jack badge on the front wings, and a numbered plaque on the bonnet. All Moke bodies will be engineered and sub-assembled in the Midlands before being shipped to Cerizay in France for final assembly. They will remain true to the look and feel of the original, with a particular focus on maintaining the sense of fun and freedom that has endeared the car to so many for more than five decades. Updates include a more modern fourcylinder, fuel injected, DOHC 1083cc engine to Euro 4 spec (low-volume producers such as this do not have to meet the latest Euro 6 standards). They also have uprated suspension (MacPherson struts up front and coil springs instead of rubber cones at the back), braking and the option for either automatic or manual transmission. The vehicle is also slightly larger to provide more cabin space, while features previously viewed as too luxurious for a car like the Moke such as power steering and a heated windscreen now come as standard.
Indicative pricing starts at £20,000 excluding local taxes and delivery, and prospective buyers can register their interest online at www.mokeinternational.com/ customise