by Holidays are a special time, a short break from everyday stress and a time to make lasting memories with loved ones. But there is one aspect of holiday life that is much less exciting – rental cars.
Most drivers are familiar with the often tedious procedure of picking up a car at the airport. After wandering through the arrivals hall laden with luggage, you wait for a long time before battling through mountains of paperwork and payment traps, only to be handed the keys by the car rental company to a boring, entry-level subcompact car with just enough power to get you moving. It’s part of the holiday deal, even car nuts would like to avoid it, but thankfully a change is on the horizon.
One company looking to up the ante in the holiday rental market is Moke International. The name may sound familiar to those who yearn for the chic charm of 1960s Côte d’Azur living, but the company has reimagined the lovable Mini-based subcompact for modern times, subtly redesigning it and equipping it with an all-electric powertrain. Although its puny 10.5kWh battery is a fraction of the size of the heavy, bulky bits in most road-going electric vehicles, it’s more than enough to transport four passengers from the beach to a hearty lunch and back again.
“People have always wanted to express themselves through the cars they drive. But in an industry that is rapidly moving to electric cars, what is currently on offer is quite generic,” says Robin Kennedy, Chief Commercial Officer of Moke International. “That’s why we have acquired the rights to the Moke brand and revived it in a more sustainable format. If you are looking for an antidote to the chaotic world we live in today, then I think driving a car like the Moke is a chance to be a little bit different and just have fun.”
The new, all-electric Moke is due out this summer and is already available to order, with pricing starting at £35,995. It has 44bhp from its 10.5kWh battery, which can be charged in four hours using a standard three-pin plug – handy if you’re on the beach and far from a public charging point. With a range of 54 miles (WLTP), it’s nippy enough to drive. 0-30mph takes 4.5 seconds, on the way to its (limited) top speed of 50mph. It’s not a high-performance car, but it’s more than enough when cruising between beaches, especially with the fabric roof off and no doors, which enhances the feeling of speed and adds a new dimension to top-down driving.
Already seeing strong demand from hotels and resorts such as the Four Seasons and Miami’s legendary Surf Club, Moke is leading the way in fun, quiet and more sustainable driving on holiday. Taking the wheel in the grounds and countryside surrounding the quintessentially British Beaverbrook hotel, which is equipped with a pair of bright orange Mokes for guests to drive out, the little speedster is just the ticket on a sunny day in the Surrey Hills. Its near-silent drive is well suited to strolling around a resort, while its functional and friendly design is sure to put a smile on everyone you meet.
“In the past, these types of hotel groups would have continued to purchase ‘golf buggies’, but now they seem to be looking for something more emotional that can be used as a low-speed vehicle solution within a resort, but also available for select guests to drive on the highway as part of their holiday experience when they want to go out to dinner or try out a different surf beach,” says Kennedy.
When he spotted one abroad on the Spanish island of Formentera a few weeks later, the dust-covered electric Moke drew a crowd in the parking lot of a popular local takeaway, its four occupants appropriately dressed in flowing linens and speedos. “It’s kind of your third car for your second home,” says Kennedy, who reports that one owner even went so far as to design his yacht with enough space to stow a Moke – a hint at the dream target audience. Not so much airport renters looking for some fun, but more the global 0.01 percent looking for a new toy for their collection.
But Moke isn’t the only one looking to boost the vacation car market. In the US, Meyers Manx – the small Californian automaker that practically invented the dune buggy in 1964 – has re-emerged, producing faithful remakes of the original, as well as the Resorter, a zero-emissions neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) that was introduced last year and starts at $52,870.
Designed for cruising around a resort or exclusive coastal areas, the Resorter promises two electric motors with enough torque to tow trailers, climb steep hills and go off-road. With four seats, a removable roof and a fold-down windscreen, just like a classic Meyers Manx buggy, the Resorter bucks the trend towards touchscreens, much like the Moke, and keeps things simple with a speedometer and switches.
In Europe, Fiat announced it will bring back the Topolino name in July 2023 with a cute four-wheeler based on the already available Citroën Ami. With a range of up to 75 kilometers and a top speed of 45 km/h, the Topolino can be fitted as a closed car with doors and a hard top, or as a doorless soft top, aptly named the Topolino Dolce Vita. Taking the charm of cars like the Fiat 500 Jolly, the Topolino comes with some modern extras like a rear-mounted luggage bag, USB fan, Bluetooth speaker, thermal water bottle and two seat covers that convert into beach towels. Aside from these optional extras, the Topolino is expected to be priced at around the Ami’s £7,695 mark.
For those looking to book something more authentic, car rental company Hertz has teamed up with Garage Italia to create a fleet of electrified Fiat 500 Jolly “Spiaggina” cars, available to rent through Hertz’s Selezione Italia range. Based on the original Fiat 500, the revamped and electrified Jollys feature a new 5-inch touchscreen and automatic transmission, as well as woven natural rope interiors as a tribute to the original.
“In Italy, we are proud of our traditions, of our distinctive culture that embodies authentic design, fashion, food and art, but above all hospitality – all embedded in Selezione Italia,” said Massimiliano Archiapatti, General Manager of Hertz Italy, at the time of the model’s launch. “Selezione Italia is much more than a rental offer, it is a philosophy; it is the way we manage the relationship with our guests.”
Similarly, independent Mallorca-based company Playero is reviving the lesser-known 1960s Seat Playero – a close cousin of the Fiat 500 Jolly, albeit based on the 600 and badged as a Seat. This year, in collaboration with UK-based brand The Rochambeau Club, Playero has created a one-off car called the Plagiste 600, outfitted with dark green wicker chairs, complete with fold-out paella table, built-in beach shower and even a cigarette machine on the dashboard. “Anyone can own a Lamborghini or a Mercedes G-Wagen,” says co-creator Joseph Bullmore. “But a beach buggy tells a different story. It is a thing of authenticity, of functionality, of raw simplicity, of old-fashioned, lost lightness. [The Plagiste 600 is] our ode to the Platonic ideal of the beach buggy, an improved version of these classic vehicles of the past that takes playfulness to the extreme.”
The unique piece costs 60,000 euros and will soon be on sale.
As the hospitality industry continues to compete for the attention of holidaymakers worldwide, the trend towards novel and more sustainable modes of transport will only intensify, bringing new models to the forefront. “There is an explosive growth in home ownership and holiday resorts,” Kennedy points out, and rental cars and slow vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in coastal areas.” With the age of fun and greener, all-electric holiday accommodation already here, look out for that “free upgrade” on your next trip – it might be something you least expect.
