The Moke Californian, Returning As An EV After 40 Years

The Moke brand cars still exist, and making a comeback to the United States after 40 years is the Moke Californian.

Now owned by MOKE International, the new model is not like before. It is now an electric vehicle (EV) inspired by the original 1964 Mini Moke.

Fully imported, the Moke Californian EV is handcrafted in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, and uses the same high specification as the European Electric Moke.

Road-legal, it weighs less than 800 Kg, powered by a 44 Hp electric motor, rear-wheel driven, dashes from 0 to 55 Km/h in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 80 Km/h.

A full charge takes this little doorless and open-top EV four hours using a US Type 1 charger, which offers a total driving range of 120 Km.

Elsewhere, drawing on history, the original Mini Moke was created by Sir Alec Issigonis, the same individual who designed the Mini.

Under the code name ‘The Buckboard’, the Mini Moke prototype was produced by the British Motor Corporation in 1959.

Before becoming a lifestyle vehicle, it was originally designed as a light military vehicle that could be dropped using a parachute into a war zone.

That said, the U.S model carries the Californian moniker in honour of the 1977 Moke Californian that was sold there before production ceased in 1982.

This reintroduction is also the first time an original version of the original Mini Moke has been sold in the U.S in over four decades. As for the pricing, it is yet to be revealed.