The Mini-based Moke was meant as an alternative small military vehicle in the mind of those who originally designed it, but it ended up having a far more successful life as an oddball road car, a kind-of British beach buggy, (last) built in Portugal (mostly) for export to sunny Australia.
Now, some 20 years after it was last made, plans are well underway to bring it back into production.
Of course it can’t be made with the same technology as the original, but it looks pretty much the same, it’s completely redesigned to feature all of the modern amenities one would expect from a contemporary car. The company that set all of this in motion is called Moke International, which has enlisted he help of Chinese manufacturer Chery Motors, along with one of its subsidiaries, Sicar Engineering.
For the year 2013, a limited production test run of 1,000 examples will be set in motion, with plans to sell all of them in Australia where the original was popular (and even built there for a time) – they say it’s already sold out…
Prospective buyers will have the choice of two power options: one petrol and one electric. It might have eluded us, but we did not find any information as to where the new Mokes will be built.
Expect an official global launch event to take place by the end of the current year.
By Andrei Nedelea
Story References: Moke Int. via Designboom
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