If you take a look at the cover photo shown and wonder what is this contraption that looks like a piece of scaffolding on wheels, it’s called the Mini Moke. It’s essentially a classic Mini that’s been stripped out and was mainly used as a recreational vehicle.
The original Moke has been discontinued since 1993 but the classic car isn’t exactly dead and buried. Just like how the current BMW-owned MINI is basically different from the Alec Issigonis-designed original, the reborn MOKE is also different as denoted by the all-caps name.
The MOKE you see here is built by Moke International and while the original was built almost worldwide including in Malaysia at one point, the modern MOKE is hand-crafted in the UK. It may look barebones inside and out but underneath it has gone green.
Powering the MOKE is a single 33-kW electric motor that powers the rear wheels. Interestingly, that’s the opposite layout from the original Moke which is front-wheel drive like the Mini.
That’s an overly optimistic speedometer
Moke International claims that its electric buggy has a 120-km range (WLTP rating) with a top speed of 80 km/h. It also only weighs 800 kg while 0-55 km/h takes 4.3 seconds.
The electric MOKE is juiced up by a lithium-ion battery but there’s no mention of its size. Moke International did state that it would take 4 hours to charge on a Type 1 US charger but again no mention of either AC or DC fast charging capacities.
You could spruce your MOKE up with a colonist Union Jack paintjob
The MOKE is currently available in the UK, France, and the United States where it is called the MOKE California in the latter. In the UK, the electric MOKE is priced from GBP 29,150 (~RM 158k) and there are plenty of customizable options available to spruce up your electric buggy.
Moke International is also the current trademark owner of the Moke name and is recognized in 100 jurisdictions worldwide but we found out that Malaysia isn’t one of them. Moke International filed a trademark application for the Moke name in Malaysia but according to the database, it is listed as ‘inactive’. So maybe the only way avid Moke collectors would want a piece of the electric revival is through unofficial grey imports?
Keyword: The Mini Moke returns as a retro-tastic EV with a 120-km range and 80 kph top speed