HOMECOMING
Much-missed car model to be sold in the UK again after over 30 years away – and this time it will be fully electric
It was even the subject of a contentious court case in the US
A MUCH-missed car which has been out of UK showrooms for over 30 years is set to be brought back - this time as an EV.
The bizarre motor has been resurrected - but not in the form its fans would be familiar with.
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The boasts a fascinating history covering six different countries and a similar number of companies.
It was originally sold as part of the Mini range between 1964 and 1993, badged at various times under the Austin, Morris and Leyland marques.
The car was designed by the great Sir Alec Issigonis, who famously designed the original Mini and partnered with John Cooper on the iconic Mini Cooper.
With no roof, nor doors and a tiny chassis, it was first marketed to the British Army as Sir Alec's employer the British Motor Corporation (BMC) tried to break into a military sphere almost entirely dominated by Land Rover.
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The idea was that the Moke was small and light enough to be parachuted out of army planes to provide support for ground troops.
However, it soon found its way into commercial showrooms and proved a cult favourite, including making starring appearances in no fewer than four Bond films.
The model's peak came in the 1980's after actress and international sex symbol Brigitte Bardot was photographed driving her dogs around the French Riviera in one, sparking a wave of popularity.
The Moke was eventually discontinued in 1993 but has been subject of a number of revival projects since then.
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This included a remake as part of a joint venture between Jaguar Land Rover and Chinese carmaker Chery in the early 2010s.
However, the Moke is now returning in force as an EV, although not as its fans may know it.
History of Mini
The new car will be made by independent startup Moke International and will not bear the Mini name, the rights to which are still owned by BMW.
But the company fought tooth and nail for the model name, even unsuccessfully going to court against rival US manufacturer Moke America LLG in a bid for exclusivity.
The Electric Moke, as it is now called, features a detachable canvas roof, heated windscreen and waterproof interior to battle through the elements.
It has a top speed of just 50mph and the firm says that "real-world" testing has provided a range over between 50 and 80 miles to a single charge.
But while it won't bite your hand off, it's not really designed too, with the intention more being light cruising in sun-soaked beauty spots than long motorway slogs.
Best of British: The history of the Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper emerged in 1961 as the result of the friendship between the British Motor Corporation's head designer, Sir Alec Issigonis, and John Cooper, the head of the Cooper Car Company.
Cooper, who was also a designer of F1 cars, felt that the original Mini, first produced in 1959, had the potential to be tuned up for the world of motorsport.
The car debuted under both the Austin and Morris brands and was a commercial hit, with over 80,000 Mk I versions sold.
The Cooper was considered an icon of '60s Britain, particularly after they were used by Michael Caine and his band of bullion thieves in 1969's The Italian Job.
The original was discontinued in 1971 before being revived in 1990 under the ownership of the Rover Group, following the collapse of British Leyland.
Mini was then purchased as a standalone brand by BMW Group in 2000 when Rover was liquidated and continues to produce the Cooper to this day.
The lineage is set to continue on beyond 2030 in the form of an electric supermini bearing the iconic Cooper nameplate.
Prices are set to start from £35,995, almost three times the price of the UK's cheapest new car - the Dacia Sandero.
But it is shaping up to include some radical eco-friendly technologies, with the 15-strong production team exploring building the car out of sugarcane and charging it with solar panels.
Chief commercial officer Robin Kennedy told : "We don’t want to greenwash.
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"We don’t have a fully sustainable car yet, but we’re exploring the usage and reusage of sustainable materials."
It comes after a beloved Japanese car brand revealed that it would be launching two new models in the UK by 2026.
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