Mini Moke was a
huge hit in Australia right from the time it first hit our roads in
1966, and stayed in production for all of 15 years – an amazing
length of time in the automotive business.
It succeeded in our market
for two reasons, firstly the fun nature of this open-air vehicle was
perfectly suited to our climate, but just as importantly it worked
here because Australian engineers tossed out the daft 10-inch
diameter wheels of the Pommie original and fitted much more sensible
13-inch wheels to local models.
Now, MINI, the
new company that's run by BMW, has developed a radical concept car
that may see a latter day revival of the Moke. The open-body
four-seater has been tagged MINI Beachcomber – great name! It's to
go on public display for the first time at the North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS) that runs between 16 and 24 January
2010 in Detroit.
This may be just
the sort of vehicle to finally lift the automotive world out of the
doom and gloom created by the global financial crisis. Because surely
no one but the most boring of wowsers could find fault in this pretty
little fun machine with its economical powerplant. The New Moke – a
name that sounds just as good as Beachcomber Concept to us – would
use the drivetrain from the pending MINI compact SUV.
“If the MINI
Beachcomber Concept did eventuate I think it would be very well
suited to the Australian landscape and way of life, especially given
our propensity for coastal living and appetite for adventure, leisure
and fun,” said MINI’s Australian manager, Justin Hocevar.
The plan is that
the MINI Beachcomber Concept can be used every day, even in adverse
weather conditions. The concept vehicle is comes with a soft
roof as well as lightweight doors that can be fitted easily and
conveniently within minutes.
Measuring
approximately four metres in length the MINI Beachcomber Concept is
said to have high levels of safety thanks to its robust structure.
Once again MINI
has created a new way of enjoying driving pleasure by expanding the
model range and previewing unconventional design. Let's hope it
succeeds and we see this fun machine on Australian roads within the
next two to three years.
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