NEWS

MOKE relaunches in the UK

MOKE International Ltd today announces the return of one of Britain's great automotive icons.

UK customers are able to order one of 56 limited edition MOKEs, an allocation selected to signify the number of years since the Mini MOKE first appeared in Britain in 1964. Order books also open for MOKEs in standard configuration, confirming the permanent return of the brand.

MOKE International revives a quintessentially British design that has charmed for more than half a century. Brigitte Bardot epitomised Riviera chic in her MOKE. The brand has since been enjoyed and championed by fun-seekers including Kate Moss and DJ Khalid. To date the car has also appeared in four James Bond films.

The original MOKE was designed in the 1960s by Sir Alec Issigonis, the architect of the Austin Mini. It was first specified as a military vehicle engineered to be robust enough for deployment behind enemy lines by aeroplane. The original shared components including suspension and chassis with the Mini.

The MOKE soon became one of the best-loved symbols of the 1960s. Becoming the mode of travel for the inhabitants of the most exclusive coastal resorts in Europe, the Caribbean, US and Asia. To this day it remains the beachhouse-towaterfront shuttle of choice.

56 CARS FOR 56 YEARS

MOKE will mark its homecoming with a strictly limited run of 56 cars, built for sale exclusively in the United Kingdom. Each is available in a choice of 14 colours and the Limited Edition ‘MOKE 56’ comes with the front grille and windscreen rails in chrome, a discrete union jack badge on the front wings, and a numbered plaque on the bonnet.

REDESIGNED AND REBORN

The original MOKE trademark was acquired in 2015 and is now owned by MOKE International Limited. The initial focus has been on meeting demand in the Caribbean market where MOKE is popular with both private buyers and luxury resorts and hotels. Following UK regulatory approval, MOKEs are now available to purchase across the UK and Ireland. Additional models will be launched across Europe, the USA and beyond in 2021.

In reviving the brand, MOKE International has gathered a team from some of the most celebrated names in the industry. Isobel Dando, leads the board of management with an automotive career that spans two decades. This includes senior commercial and product leadership roles at Jaguar Land Rover and the BMW Group.

ENGINEERING AND PERFORMANCE

MOKE International will stay true to its British and Continental roots through its strategic approach to manufacturing and engineering. All MOKE bodies will be engineered and subassembled in the centre of Britain's globally renowned specialist automotive manufacturing industry in the Midlands before being shipped to Cerizay, France for final assembly.

Mark Truman leads MOKE’s engineering and production functions having held senior technical roles at Aston Martin, Ford and Jaguar Land Rover. “My role at MOKE is to preserve the integrity and spirit of the original MOKE whilst incorporating the very best of today’s technologies that match the requirements of a new generation.”

Today’s MOKEs remain true to the look and feel of the original, with a particular focus on maintaining the sense of fun and freedom that has endeared the car to so many for more than five decades. Updates include a new 4 cylinder, fuel injection engine, uprated suspension, braking and the option for either automatic transmission or manual for the more engaged driver.

The vehicle is also slightly larger to provide more cabin space. Features previously viewed as a luxury like power steering and heated windscreen now, of course, come as standard. From today, UK buyers will be invited to order either the limited edition ’MOKE 56’ or the standard MOKE Classic, which begins full production. Indicative pricing starts at £20,000 excluding local taxes and delivery. Interested buyers should register interest at https://mokeinternational.com/customise

SPECIFICATIONS

Transmission: 4-speed Automatic Engine: 4 cylinder, 1083cc Fuel Economy: 34 mpg Emissions standard: Euro 4 Top Speed: 68mph Power: 67hp (50Kw) @ 6000 rpm Torque: 93Nm @ 3500–4500 rpm

MORE INFORMATION: Website: www.mokeinternational.com Instagram: @moke Facebook: @mokeinternational

CUPRA to join EXTREME E Series alongside ABT

CUPRA is embarking on the next stage of its electric journey as it joins in the Extreme E racing series as the main partner of the ABT Sportsline team.

The announcement, made at the opening of Europe’s first CUPRA Garage in Hamburg, Germany, means CUPRA becomes the first automotive brand to join the electric SUV off-road competition. The opening also saw the unveiling of the striking electric SUV race showcar.

Extreme E is planned to start in early 2021 and is set to travel across some of the world’s most extreme and remote environments, chosen to raise awareness of climate change issues.

CUPRA CEO Wayne Griffiths and SEAT Executive Vice-president for R&D Dr. Werner Tietz unveiled the team’s car, accompanied by Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E, and HansJürgen Abt, managing partner of ABT Sportsline.

During the unveiling, it was confirmed CUPRA e-ambassador, Rally Cross and DTM Champion, Mattias Ekström will be one of the team’s drivers for the first season of Extreme E. The Extreme E series has a gender-equal sporting format, teams will field one male and one female driver.

CUPRA decided to join forces with ABT Sportsline as the racing team’s main partner, contributing to the line-up of engineers and drivers for this electric odyssey.

SEAT Executive Vice-president for R&D, Dr. Werner Tietz, commented:“The Extreme E series represents the CUPRA challenger attitude in the racing world and its ambition to explore new motorsport experiences. For this reason, the decision to become the first automotive manufacturer to participate in the competition and reinforce our cooperation

with ABT is proof of both partners’ shared vision of reinventing the world of high-performance cars through electrification.”

CUPRA and ABT Sportsline have worked together since 2018, producing enhanced versions of the Leon CUPRA and the CUPRA Ateca. This partnership continues to bring together the expertise of the world’s first 100% electric touring racing car, the CUPRA e-Racer; and the ABT Sportsline team that has participated so successfully in Formula E.

“We love innovation, competition, e-mobility and the feeling of being a pioneer in something completely new. With CUPRA we now have a partner at our side who, like us, firmly believes in the revolutionary concept of Extreme E, both in terms of sport and in terms of off-track marketing”, said ABT managing partner Hans-Jürgen Abt.

The CUPRA Garage in Hamburg is the second flagship store worldwide, following the first opened in Mexico City last year. Located in the outskirts of the city, the 340 square meter space, formerly an early 20th century industrial building, has been remodelled into a contemporary ground-level store inspired by a garage and exclusively dedicated to the brand.

LAND ROVER's Defender Hard Top is on sale now

Available in both 90 Hard Top, and 110 Hard Top body designs, the durable interior of the new commercial model combines a two seat passenger compartment with the option of a third central jump seat, and a flexible, hard-wearing rear load bay that provides 1,355 and 2,059 litres of loadspace respectively.

By incorporating clever lockable underfloor storage solutions and a secure bulkhead partition, Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations have taken every step to maximise the space and practicality of the Defender in its transformation into the most usable and hard-wearing commercial Land Rover ever produced.

All Defender Hard Top models come with a practical cargo area with a fixed full height partition to separate occupants from the generous load area. The bulkhead boosts security and safety, and the partition itself comes with four hanging hooks on the loadspace side, and two stowage nets on the cabin side of 110 models for small items.

The full width load floor is completely flat, with up to six integrated lashing points, heavy duty rubber mats and a set of lockable storage areas, providing with 58 litres of underfloor stowage at the rear of both the 90 and 110. An additional underfloor area is fitted to the 110 Hard Top, where the footwells of the Defender passenger model would normally be found, providing 155 litres of hidden stowage, and the whole load area is illuminated by enhanced interior lighting five times brighter than the standard passenger Defender.

Additionally, high-sided rubber mats for the front footwells add to the rugged nature of the passenger compartment, and when the time comes to clean the interior out, the all-rubber floor coverings can be hosed down.

If required, the 110 Hard Top can accommodate a standard Euro Pallet thanks to its wide-opening tailgate. The maximum load length measures up to 1,472mm in the 110 and lashing points ensure large loads can be safely secured in place.

Customers can add bespoke signage to the Defender Hard Top's iconic silhouette, thanks to the Exterior Signage Panel behind the front row of seats that runs to the rear of the vehicle, while a variety of roof racks and accessories provide added scope for load carrying.

The Hard Top also demonstrates impressive towing prowess, with the ability to pull up to 3,500kg, and it will wade through water up to 900mm deep, assisted by the Wade programme in the Terrain Response 2 system that ensures drivers can cross flooded roads or tracks with confidence.

Power for the Defender Hard Top comes from a choice of advanced Ingenium diesel engines mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with twin-speed transfer box. The Defender 90 Hard Top features the D200 in-line six-cylinder engine producing 200PS and 500Nm of torque.

The Defender 110 Hard Top is available with the D250 or D300 in-line six-cylinder diesel engines, featuring MHEV technology and the option of Electronic Air Suspension. The D250 delivers 249PS and 570Nm of torque, while the D300 provides 300PS and 650Nm.

Convenience is enhanced further with the Remote smartphone app, which will allow businesses to keep track of the location, fuel level and journey history of their vehicle from afar, for ultimate peace of mind and security.

UK Prices Defender 90 Hard Top - from £35,820 OTR (exc. VAT) Defender 110 Hard Top - from £43,012 OTR (exc. VAT)

SUZUKI JIMNY Light Commercial

Suzuki has introduced a new 2-seater light-commercial vehicle version of the Jimny. Since its launch in 2018, the model has attracted both private-users and professionals who want an authentic 4x4 with uncompromising off-road performance.

To further meet the needs of professionals, and adventurers, the new Jimny light commercial vehicle model comes with a large luggage compartment with a flat floor and safety cargo partition.

The light commercial vehicle model features the same uncompromising off-roading performance as the passenger vehicle model with key essentials – a ladder frame, the three angles, 3-link rigid axle suspension and ALLGRIP PRO, a part-time 4WD system with low range transfer gear. It also retains the same 1.5 litre petrol engine and 5 speed gearbox, which is a shame as it deserves the 1.4 litre Boosterjet engine and 6 speed combo, but we can’t have everything, eh?

For enhanced utility, the light commercial vehicle model has a large 863-litre capacity, 33 litre more than the passenger vehicle model when rear sear seats are folded down, with a flat floor for better practicality and safety partition that protects cargoes moving into the cabin.

For enhanced peace of mind on driving both on- and off-road, the light commercial vehicle model comes equipped with the same safety features as the passenger vehicle model including Dual Sensor Brake Support (DSBS) which employs automatic brake to help avoid a collision, and hill hold and descent control that support driving on slopes.

In addition, eCall, an emergency messaging function in case of a collision is newly added.