MELBOURNE, Australia – Get ready for a new version of the Classic Moke motor vehicle in the Caribbean next year.
Moke International says the vehicle will be released by mid-2013. In a Joint Venture with Chery Motors and their subsidiary Sicar Engineering in China, Moke International has decided to initially produce the MOKE as a low-volume car with 1 000 units per year.
It has been over 20 years since the last Moke rolled off the assembly line in Portugal. Throughout the 1970s and ’80s it was considered the car for the stress-free lifestyle with the attitude of no doors, no roof, no worries!
The new “Classic” Moke will retain all of the unique features of the original Moke but items like engine capacity, braking systems and safety standards have been overhauled and improved.
The manufacturer, Chery Motors, is the seventh largest auto manufacturer based in China and produces over 600 000 vehicles a year. The company is also China’s top auto exporter and recently signed a joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover to manufacture their cars in China for future export.
The original Moke was designed and released in 1960 -1963 as a military vehicle that was light, compact and strong. In 1964 it was first released for public sale in Britain under the names Austin Moke and Morris Moke. In 1966 the first Mokes were produced in Australia under the name BMC Mini Moke. The Moke is often called a “Mini Moke” as it was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, the same designer as the famous Mini.
Due to its relaxed and fun “image” the Moke is often seen in coastal areas as a fun recreational vehicle.
In 2012 Chery Motors/Sicar Engineering and Moke International started reengineering the Moke with new features such as nine-inch front disc brakes three-point seat belts for front and rear seats, modern car suspension technology plus a fuel-injected engine and rust-proof body.
There are also plans for an electric eMoke to be released in the near future and more details will be released soon. (PR)
