The original ‘Mini Moke’ was an iconic part of the beach lifestyle (and a must-have accessory for the rich and famous) from the 1960s through to the 80s.
Whilst only around 50,000 were ever built (around half of them in Australia), original Mini Mokes have achieved cult status with restored versions commonly swapping hands here for $50,000 or more.
The Moke was first designed by the legendary Sir Alec Issigonis back in 1959 (For those who have not heard of him: Alec Issigonis is famous for designing the then ground-breaking monocoque body, front-engine, front wheel drive Mini).
Sales of the Moke began in 1964 and was for a long time one of the brands within the British Leyland stable. With the restructuring and eventual break-up of British Leyland, the Moke brand name changed hands several times – to now be owned by Moke International.
By 2020, Moke International released an updated petrol version of the Moke in the UK and Europe – but not in its home market, the US.
Moke reinvented as electric, plans to ditch ICE
Moke International has now reinvented the Moke in full-electric form with the intention to discontinue the petrol version.
With a top speed of 80km/h, 120km on a single charge and a blistering 4.3 sec zero to, er, 55km/h – Moke International is advertising the electrified version as ‘more powerful than the original’. (Although, going by those figures the original did not set a very high bar to beat!).
Sales of the electric Moke in the UK (where it is built) began May this year and it can currently be bought in a number of European countries. Now, 40 years after the last new Moke was sold in the US, the Moke is set to soon return there.
To be marketed in the US as the Moke Californian, Moke International is hoping to both recapture nostalgia for the original as well as market it as a green alternative for open-top, summer beach fun.
To quote Isobel Dando, CEO of Moke International: “This is a momentous time for MOKE International. It’s great to be able to offer the US market a genuine MOKE car for the first time in 40 years. The original Moke Californian represented an incredibly important chapter in the company’s rich history; we are proud that the MOKE lives on and can be enjoyed in the electric era.”
According to the press release, further details on when the Californian will formally go on sale in the U.S., as well as pricing, will be released in coming weeks.
Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.