The British VW ID. Buzz? NEW Morris JE Van review exclusive first drive

[@andrewjones-productions]

I started watching this video with a tiny bit of disdain and an attitude of `what is the with the UK wanting to live in the past'. However, by the end of the video, I genuinely felt like I wanted one! I have to say, that there is a lot of genius going on in this van. Those rear doors are something that other manufacturers are going to want to pay to use! BRILLIANT! I think that this has the potential to outdo the ID Buzz in terms of design, but it will be the quality and range etc. that will ultimately determine that. Very good video Jonny. Especially one that shifts an attitude 180 degrees!

[@adzy166]

Couldn’t agree more! I was the same thinking it was one for the Heartbeat set. But there’s some really clever engineering in this wee van- and that’s what the UK is good at. Creativity and engineering. Proper gent from Morris too- could listen to him all day

[@bathroomjon1]

I wouldn’t wholly disagree with the comment about living in the past but, let’s not forget how successful BMW was with the mini, fiat with the 500 range and Ford with some of their american retro cars - van wise the latest VW ID Buzz is heavily modelled on the earlier shape Transporter/camper van so I’m pleased we are being innovative and cleverly milking our heritage

[@nik-ev3eh]

Music was a bit irritating.

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

@@adzy166 yes an interesting design but let’s see how clever Morris are in actually making an affordable van !

[@drnh4444]

It's because the UK has an extremely long history or traditions unlike many countries. We should never lose that.

[@monkeybarmonkeyman]

Just have to tell you it is SO refreshing that some folks actually get it when it comes to design. Those old shaper are spectacular, a true feast for the eyes. Please give them my/our thanks for having the intestinal fortitude to pull this off!!!!

[@space.youtube]

lol

[@craigdawson1749]

Judging by the price, I think they’re pulling themselves off! EVs aren’t the way forward, they are in fact a step backwards in many ways. These vans look great & have loads of character, as most vehicles of yesteryear did, all that’s missing is an Ls1!

[@Chris-bg8mk]

@@craigdawson1749 thanks Big Oil Troll! 😂

[@TheLoner00]

VW needs to bring back the original VW van and make it gas powered not an ev

[@matthewwalter-x3t]

If this is anywhere near reasonably priced, it will be a great success! BRILLIANT!!!

[@GavinByrneLand]

Never mind that it's a commercial vehicle. Never mind that it's an EV. I just want it! It's such a joyful and generally good-looking thing. I'm smitten!

[@badscrew4023]

I would totally drive one as a personal vehicle.

[@neilroscoe9898]

I don’t need a van in any way but I would trade my MB S class for ont

[@yfelwulf]

It will suit your outfit at the Gay Bar

[@henkholdingastate]

GREAT and beautifull

[@jamesengland7461]

Same!

[@DavidStruveDesigns]

See now _this_ .. THIS is what I've been wanting for YEARS!! Proper old-school styling built on top of a completely modern vehicle base with all the advancements we've made over the years. These vans are _sooo_ cute and fun to just look at! I adore the colour choices, the two-tone look, the curves and quirky front ends. I hope that not only are these models very successful, I hope it kicks off a whole new design era of bringing back the older vehicle styles that just have _SO_ much more character to them than anything currently being produced.

[@kodak_jack]

I think VW might have gotten an even greater response with their electric vehicles if they too might have stuck with the older body styles - a VW bus and a Bug. Put some decent windows in the side panels and make it a people mover.

[@DavidStruveDesigns]

@@kodak_jack I mean they did a fair job with the ID Buzz but yeah, they still went a little too modern with its styling. I prefered the concept model they showcased that looked a lot closer to the original VW Bus design. Not sure why they changed so much, since that vehicle was so popular _because_ it had so much of the retro look and feel. The Bug is definitely another vehicle that lends itself very well to an electric model - but again they should stick closer to the original styling and not try to modernise it's exterior too much.

[@kodak_jack]

@@DavidStruveDesigns The thing that kills the Buzz is the price. In its preliminary design, I could swear the intended price was mid 30’s. At double that price, I’m out.

[@DavidStruveDesigns]

@@kodak_jack Ooof yeah that is quite a bit more than they said it was going to be. And this is a big problem with electric cars in general that is slowing their adoption down artificially. Far too many models being made at the moment come on the market for _way_ too much. Until car companies start putting more focus into the cheaper end of the market they're going to struggle to help us meet the goals we're trying to achieve with electric vehicle adoption. Not to mention it doesn't help that even the slightest bumps or scratches on these current models cost an absolute fortune to repair and quite often result in the entire car being written off. I saw a video of a Tesla that got a part of its bumper dented - it wasn't much damage all things considered but the repair bill was over 20k!! Plus they're far too heavy which makes them more inefficient which means limited range, limited carrying capacity and more charging stations needed (which don't yet exist in enough quantities).

[@volvos60bloke]

we DID it are Brexit is complete are corntree is showing the world how it’s did .

[@HippoOnABicycle]

One thing I like about electric vehicles is how creative a lot of them are. There are so many near-identical sedans out there, I love that electric vehicle manufacturers are bringing back creativity in car design.

[@marcoalvarado6793]

Could we call this the "renaissance of the car"? Initially I was worried about so many strange brands and shapes, but really, they are showing us that it is possible to break with the norm of the big makers. In fact, why our own community can't make their own solution based on some type of standard powertrain?

[@geertcautereels]

I think they, like so often, do because they can now. The non metal parts make more possible for lesser money and weight due to the new teck. It is like Jimi would stick out less without his just invented pedals (but would still be great: see acoustic Jimi)

[@mickpilsworth1]

This is going to be hard to believe, but this was the first vehicle I ever drove. We bought a Morris van for £5, hacked the body off completely, fashioned a kind of roadster body for it out of plywood and drove it round the local fields for 4-5 years until I was 17 and could drive a real car. Brilliant fun!!!😊

[@raypurchase801]

A fiver was worth a lot more in those days.

[@patricklinyard1119]

As someone who drives a van daily that back door alone makes this a winner. It’s a nightmare parking in London and opening the back doors to get your tools out. The smaller footprint etc is amazing.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Great feedback to hear Patrick, cheers

[@philspencelayh5464]

As a long time van user the side door, preferably both sides was always my favourite.

[@rjc0234]

yeah, the design is a little odd. some things like the iconic front bumper and the green are missing, but those rear doors... amazing. gives you that "why have i not seen this before" vibe as it seems to work so well.

[@MrFreesearcher]

From someone who owns a Caddy Van, I truly hate it when the wind blows the doors shut as I'm stood between, as not only is the curve of the door top at head height, but the top securing catch sticks out, so plenty to bash your head on. The door mechanism on this Morris van is absolutely brilliant, and I'd love to consider one of these vans in the future. My biggest question is, like with Dyson, has this been ruggedly tested many many times, to see what the life expectancy is like. be a pain if the back doors fail after just a couple of years.

[@londonglide]

My Mum has a pic of her and my Dad in the early '50s, In a J type van, touring the Scottish Highlands. It was like the green one, but had side windows. It is one of the few things she can remember now, and it brings a smile to her face when she tells us about the holiday she loved. Great to see the new ones. I'm tempted...

[@jonburrough1452]

“Forget the price and the looks - its Britishness is what this is all about”- brilliant Jonny. It’s very cool indeed. Bravo to Morris

[@KirkDavis1966]

Those new Morris Van's look simply SMASHING, all charm, all vintage, all BRITISH..Hats off from across the pond lads..

[@Tampo-tiger]

You're a dashed decent cove old boy!

[@drd6416]

Now, THIS is the kind of thinking that Britain was good at! Love it, even if it's electric. A proper nod to the original design, not a rehash or interpretation. I wish them all the best!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Glad you like the video and the van's design..

[@MrStacy1974]

@@TheLateBrakeShow my question is ,with this being ev could it be imported to the U.S. ?

[@wideawake914]

Next up an old style Morris minor look but electric.

[@MorrisCommercial]

@@MrStacy1974 we plan that it can....!

[@MorrisCommercial]

@@wideawake914 have you been looking at our plans......? Ha ha! Please be patient!

[@DetroitMicroSound]

It's a lot better at capturing the classic look than what VW was able to do with the Buzz, by far. What a great looking van! This is going to be a custom modders dream come true. I can see people turning these into really cool little campers.....

[@patreekotime4578]

Agree. VW just did a minor facelift to the Transporter and added a two-tone paint option. They also attempted to stretch the ID3 styling cues into a van and IMO that technique almost never works. I understand why companies do it, because they can in CAD, but the results are always meh IMO.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@patreekotime4578 Agree

[@KenanTurkiye]

VW should take lessons and not cheat consumers again, in design too.

[@masonandmotors]

My first thought too was ooh camper!

[@sgtgrash]

​@Mason & Motors Mine too. A camper version with the ability to charge via electric hook-up would be fab. What a lovely looking thing... 😁

[@tomlawson4713]

I currently drive a 1968 Morris Minor 1000. I would adore one of these, I’d happily put my surfboards on it or carry my work supplies around. What a fantastic debut for the return of Morris!

[@TK-Touring]

Thank you Johnny for "taking the path less trodden" in automotive journalism, and reviewing such unique/niche vehicles such as this! I've always been captured by the J-Type and I think this new JE is going to do the original proud.

[@ИванИванов-о6ц6м]

cringe car from china

[@MrEV]

Maybe targeting high-end, low volume production will make them more likely to succeed? I hope so. It’ll bring a massive smile to my face to see them on the roads.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

I think this cannot be a high volume vehicle, unless the company was bought out and they changed their ethos?

[@santosh911]

Tired of high end. Affordable would be better, regardless of volume.

[@MrManBuzz]

​@@santosh911 The new Renault 5 EV is supposed to be exactly that. If Renault manage to keep it looking similar to the concept car, it could be a massive hit. Big if though.

[@Locost59]

@@santosh911 it depends on how long it lasts and if the eye-catching design provides a mobile billboard. A Ford or Mercedes will rot out in very little time, this is aluminium and carbon.

[@adventpc3]

Its only £12k more than a transit electric. So not that high end compared to the Defender or MGB electric that have come out. Its similar money to the new London Taxi.

[@chrisarmstrong2127]

Never thought I’d say this about a van but I feel there’s more attention to detail and design…and desirability than most car companies can muster at the moment. Great review!

[@RussellSmithOmegaW]

This is born to be an ice cream van! It's so stylish, I can see many applications. I really like it.

[@MorrisCommercial]

Thank you Russell...anything but Amazon or DPD!! ha ha!

[@GordonSmithsmersh71]

As a van driver for a recycling company it would be my dream to drive this vehicle. It's great to see a British manufacturer with such an amazing design. If they want an experienced van driver to test give me a call 😊 wishing them all sucess

[@dazspurs9899]

can you recycle the EV battery?

[@ff2skin356]

@@dazspurs9899 - Yes ! Electric car batteries are recyclable, with some techniques allowing up to 95% of the raw materials to be recovered. Governments globally are also mandating EV batteries to be designed and manufactured in an easily recyclable way. Beyond recycling, EV batteries can be upcycled, reused, or repurposed after they have outlived their initial life in a car. Unlike the batteries in our devices, EV batteries are designed from the ground up for durable, high-intensity performance. As a result, they usually last much longer, 15-20 years on average. Tesla, for example, reports that their batteries are typically used for around 200,000 miles in the US and 150,000 miles in the UK and Europe without issues. But even if a battery does fail prematurely, manufacturers are including an 8 to 10-year warranty on their battery packs (this could be more as time progresses), so it will be covered for most of its life. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), figures show the average UK car is 8.4 years old, while cars tend to be around 14 years old before they are scrapped. EV batteries can’t just be dumped in landfill and buried: the materials they comprise would not only be damaging for the environment, but are also worth too much money to simply be disposed of in this manner. So far, Veolia, and a few other UK companies have announced there first electric vehicle battery recycling facilities in the UK, which will have the capacity to process the UK’s end of life electric vehicle batteries by 2024.

[@zak2u2]

@@ff2skin356 This is all propaganda. They are all being disposed of in special sites where they will stay just like atomic waste. From a current Google "Currently, the only EV battery material worth recycling is cobalt. That leaves lithium, manganese, and nickel, among a host of other materials that may not be economically recyclable or require additional processing that drives cost" And this. "But eventually those batteries, along with the toxic chemicals that can leach out of them, could end up in hazardous waste landfills. There are NO EV-battery recycling plants in California, and only five up and running nationwide, according to CalEPA." We are being lied to by woke politicians who are pushing for EVs regardless of the damage caused.

[@royfolland8092]

I no longer have use for a van - but I just want one! I love its retro styling and those rear doors are just brilliant. I wish them every success, so much nicer than the usual commercial offerings in every way.

[@ukqwerty999]

get a couple of dogs :)

[@josh_bfc_2769]

Absolutely fantastic concept. Keeping the British design and innovation of old school. The camper version would be just as successful as the interior space is there to accommodate. Great informative video as ever Johnny 👍

[@raypurchase801]

I'd LOVE one of these, but they're too expensive and I don't think you'd keep your legs if this vehicle was in a frontal crash. My daily-driver is a '58 Austin A35, but at least I've got an engine and a yard of metal between my knees and an oncoming car.

[@latriciacagle4873]

WHO wouldn’t want a van with a “TARDIS” like interior? I would love to see these in the USA.

[@RenoLaringo]

Me.

[@serious1587]

USA already has an existing TARDIS problem

[@Xubuntu47]

The design isn't only beautiful to look at. It's beautiful because it works. The high amount of interior space relative to total volume - the TARDIS effect - is beautiful.

[@landroversforever]

They've done a lovely job of that. Great to see a proper retro design being done properly and is instantly recognisable.

[@J.Cameron.Stuart.Adams.]

Brilliant van. It's sad to see the split window had to go to meet new regs. One alteration I would make for the production model is to make the third brake light with the back up camera integrated. The rear doors are going to be slammed shut many time in its life. The added benefit of the camera relocation is being able to record activity while the doors are open. Meaning driver injury claims and theft can be verified by the camera. I'm excited we'll soon see another beautiful EV going down the lane. Cheers!

[@MorrisCommercial]

Good idea Cameron!

[@garyhalkon8749]

Ideally Royal Mail need to see this van as an opportunity to get them made into real life postman pats van! Quirky but beautiful looking van, would be a joy to see these on the road.

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

It´s the perfect antidote to the overly agressive and "angry" styling of today. This makes you feel good and warm at heart instead of intimidated and stressed like a lot of todays cars emits.

[@HQBProductions]

Well said…I am deeply fed up with every car being “more aggressive” every time they move the wipers an inch or put yet another angry crease then paint it black…or worse..Matt black! The JE is a delight on so many levels!🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@westelaudio943]

Angry look can be good look at the Alfa Montreal, one of the most aggressive head light designs but it just looks amazing. The problem with modern cars is they look like angry baby Chihuahuas, so immature... With the bubbly distorted cheapish plastic lights.

[@westho7314]

Todays cars ICE & EV 's all look like very angry & pissed off insects or action figure vehicles from some sci-fi space invader movie, i understand the necessity of aerodynamics & weight for efficency & MPG or MPAmp, the well rounded art deco style is fully aerodynamic. Curvacious Cars built from the mid to late 30's to early 50's had that rounded airflow/ aerodynamic feature incorporated in their styling..the 1950 Nash Airflyte is a good example (an upside down bathtub as they are fondly refered as), A Huge car with 118 inch wheelbase, inline 6 cylinder engine, automatic, super plush interior with bench seats that turn into 2 twin beds or a full queen size bed for travelers, It got an amazing 33-37 mpg in 1950 due to the body aerodynamics, weight for such a huge Tunaboat being a unibody construct, and small efficient carboration on the 6 cylinder. Though 35mpg is almost unacceptable as an economy vehicle today,, My little clown car a 1991 Geo Metro convertible with 200k on the clock, 3 cylinder with the XFI 5 speed out of the Geo XFI hatchback gets 50-60 mpg when properly tuned and driven sanely (Under 70 mph) on the flats, 55-60 mph is its sweet spot, Mountain roads and steep long inclines it struggles a bit , getting around 40-45 mpg as it has to work pretty hard with the 3 cylinder engine to get up and over the mountainous terrain where i live. I had a 1988 Honda civic Si hatchback that had alot more power and got a solid 50-55 mpg with over 300k on original engine 10 mpg better than Toyota Prius.

[@patrickdgarez86]

Well done being the first to review it/them and hats off to the team @ Morris for doing such an amazing job on both the design and having the foresight to see the promise that this super cool reminder of a bygone era. I am a yank who grew up with Brits (20 years in Hong Kong and Singapore) and, while my time on your actual island has been limited, even I, as a Frenchman/yank, felt the gentle nostalgic wave that ran through my bones for a split second remembering all of the British flicks and tv shows, from my youth, that featured the original versions. Great video, Jonny. I could see the beam of pride emanating from your eyes throughout the review. =)

[@chrisdaigle5410]

Amazing design and styling on this van. Those rear doors are amazing. I could see this as a catering van like at a wedding site and the side door and back doors are open and the van is outfitted with series of shelves that slide out to access the food. Something I would like to see an EV manufacturer do is set three video screens in the center of the windshield with a 180 degree view of the area behind the drivers head. It would show both sides of the van and the rear with a glance. It would make it safer to drive.

[@butchmills4776]

It's so good to see something with character being built. So many of the new cars look so very much alike. I feel like 90% of the vehicles on the road look alike. I love this!! I do wish they could mass build a small van like the blue one and price it fairly inexpensively...the new 'mini-van' that actually looks cool and has style for miles/kilos.

[@daveallen63]

It's just a shame that it's a specialty/limited edition arena things like this van are being built in. I truly believe there is a mass market for nostalgia inspired products, especially in the automotive industry.

[@imnotamechanic3491]

@@daveallen63 You are spot on, there is a mass market for nostalgia, which is what the Fiat 500 and MINI are largely sold on, and beyond that you get american companies replicating the look of their iconic muscle cars (the Mustang is a modern interpretation of a particular past model, its looked very different in between).

[@JB-yb4wn]

It isn't cheap. It looks good, but not $73,000 good.

[@celtisafricana4984]

Back to the future... I realised as I was watching the panoramic shots of you tootling along the road that this van represents a complete circle for society- decades back we had those electric milk delivery vans... dead quiet (apart from the musical tinkling of the bottles), no clouds of diesel smoke and almost as cartoonishly iconic as these little movers.

[@HaralHeisto]

Silent? You forget the clunka-clunk of the contactors engaging and the wooooooooooo of the brushed DC motors as they pulled off :D Nostalgic and certainly quieter than an ICE, but not silent!

[@geordie1032]

When I was young and lived in the countryside, our butcher used to come around in a Morris J type van same colour as the green one. He used to drop me off in the town to attend the army cadets. Wonderful to see this model adapted into today's modern world. Well done, Morris, this is going to be very popular

[@lucasRem-ku6eb]

Our school driver used it as a small bus for kids, the engine i remember. I knew it was Morris, and not the VW Type 2 i loved ! I smell failure, who would need them ? Too many alternatives that are better, the new Bronco's by VW and Ford etc !

[@Taylorjay99]

I saw this at the "Fully Charged LIVE" show and was genuinely amazed! There's a lot of little features (such as the sliding rear doors) that have clearly been well thought out and designed for a purpose. When you consider it's basically ID Buzz money with a much more attractive design and a focus on sustainability, I think (and hope) this will become a popular little thing!

[@GudieveNing]

Ditto, and it is fantastic in real life. Positioned next to some boring Chinese tat it was a breath of fresh air. Lots of design innovations and a kitchen unit like the Rivian. (Not watched video yet.)

[@gilesgreenaway5655]

Did you see 5 th gear recharged test on new vw and merc e vans? Pathetic range and 300 kg load just about finished one off.

[@trishjordan8859]

American here, absolutely in love with this van. Never wanted an electric vehicle before now. SO WISH I could have one of these for personal use.😲💞☺️

[@richardparrott7192]

My Grandad had an original J Van that he bought to use as an ice-cream truck and it was fabulous! Timber cover for the motor and timber dashboard, drive with the doors open, great childhood memories!

[@Bullseye120]

I love it. Hats off to Morris for producing something with "STYLE" and retro grace. It begs to make a brand statement about the owner.

[@Tampo-tiger]

The original version of this lovely Morris van was used by the Post Office, and from about the age of 4 or 5 I clearly recall them buzzing around in the bright red GPO livery. It was a wonderful time to be British: our manufactured products were being shipped out for export, we had FULL employment so if you disliked your job you'd leave at lunchtime and have a new one by afternoon tea time. The sun seems to have been shining more often, young people were starting to behave like individual youngsters and the term 'teenager' was emerging, rather than young people just being younger versions of their parents. We were still not that far out from WW2 so everyone remembered the hell of war, and we were determined to enjoy the peace. We had a phenomenal National Health Service that attracted people from all over the world to copy it or move here to enjoy the benefits of it. Britain was riding high, and nothing was impossible if you worked hard. As PM 'Supermac' Harold Macmillan said, "most of us have never had it so good". The lovely little Morris J van takes us old farts back to an era when pretty much everything was going our way. I think the new electric versions are fabulous; the design updates are sympathetic and the whole thing is a stroke of genius. Start making them and I will be first to buy one.

[@MorrisCommercial]

Thank you so much! Great praise and love your memories!

[@AnthonyRBlacker]

I really am VERY impressed with the rear hinge!! It's AMAZING! What a great job here, this little van is SO so nice, it's going to be a standard bearer for a LONG time. Very very good work!!

[@stephenkayll5241]

My father drove the original J type van in the 1960's as a GPO engineer fitting telephones into premises. I used to ride with him at school break times. Great memories.

[@buttyboy100]

Don't let your dad's Inspector find out or he will be in receipt a "Please Explain" chit, cosiderably back dated!😂

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

You have to love a car that brings a smile to anyone who sees it on the street.

[@5610winston]

16:05 rear door opening is truly brilliant. No tracks to go out of alignment and bind, just simple parallelogram movement. Tages a bit more space to open, but if that's a problrm, you're not able tp get between the van and the next vehicle anyhow.

[@a1white]

So good to see a company making things from recycled carbon fibre too! Absolutely love this and wish them well. I can really see a market for a camper van on this platform

[@kipperwhite2976]

My thought also be Centerpiece of carpark or campground !

[@splashpit]

I’m wondering what carbon fibre products there are that get recycled, “black country” is a term iv never heard before means nothing to me .

[@brickhouseuni]

@@splashpit It is the west midlands around the Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton areas.

[@a1white]

@@splashpit Bicycles for one. Lots of carbon fibre bikes unfortunately end up in landfill at the end of their lives currently, as they are tricky to recycle. Black country is a term for the post industrial areas of the West midlands, mainly Sandwell, Dudley, Tipton and Walsall.

[@ukqwerty999]

@@brickhouseuni tbh they won't be able to use that term in five years

[@marvwatkins7029]

Great to see Jonny getting to try something new (AND the 1st driver) rather than just old. It shows that his SHOW is grabbing serious attention from heavyweights. Also the opening amongst other things had been upscaled. Great job, Jonny.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I'd love a green camper version of this. So much character and practical too. Also it's properly British, which is quite rare now too.

[@PatrykPonichtera]

Love the retro look, I wish more car manufacturers took their great iconic designs and just re made them as a modern car

[@racheladkins6060]

I agree. I had a dream where I was in a retro car, but it was a taxi with three wheels, I sat at the back quite a way, and there was nobody driving it, yet the steering wheel turned it self, it was then I got scared and it turned into a nightmare, and I got out of the dream waking up.

[@racheladkins6060]

Why shouldn’t it be mass produced? I want to see more, it will sell like hotcakes.

[@WilliamStevens007]

I can see a really healthy future for Morris and the JE van, And that pick up, Love it. Thanks for bringing this to us Jonny.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Absolute pleasure. We hope to see (and drive) the finished vans soon.

[@WilliamStevens007]

@@TheLateBrakeShow Can't wait. Im a ICE man but I would live with one of these for sure.

[@TheSpectre223]

This is fantastic, everything I want modern cars, EV and not EV to be. Whimsical design to combat the grey sludgeboxes everyone seems stuck with, proper British made, and as you say it's not sacrificed practicality to be cute. I hope they do extremely well and start a trend for similar projects going forward.

[@barryjmarling]

Now that by far is the best looking EV I have ever seen,what a absolute headturner,hats off to them,so much better looking than the Buzz,absolutely love it. Makes you proud to be British,way to go Morris.

[@lucasRem-ku6eb]

You love the Nissan S-Cargo too, weird cars are never big sellers, sorry ...

[@66meikou]

If they could come over to the states, I'd be tempted. While I think they're aiming for a niche market, this van has far more potential and I think it's a shame that they're aiming at high end users. It's such a great take on an iconic design. I'd say don't sell millions but sell 100 k a year? If you're a local bakery shop or builder and you run half a dozen vans. That's a big price tag to rebuild your fleet. The fact that you can fit an 8x4 sheet in the back is excellent. I hope if they offer a second row of seats, they use a frame to mount the seats on so you maintain the 8x4 clearance. I'm not sold on the cameras as mirrors, that's something that could be binned to save on costs. I'd love to see a camper version especially if it was modular and removeable. Last point is, I'd love to see one of these with a eco 1.0l petrol engine option. The infrastructure in the UK isn't at a point where it's pop down to the petrol station. It's a beautiful looking van though!

[@turboconqueringmegaeagle9006]

Anything that doesn't have overly aggressive styling is a pleasure today, even a new toaster looks like it wants to kill me. Absolutely love this thing.

[@DJW1981]

Yep. Most cars these days look like homicidal maniacs.

[@tjm3900]

I completely agree. I do hope this fad of overly aggressive styling ends soon. I might appeal to guys that never matured beyond the age of 13, or those that think they look cool driving to work in something that might transform into a killer robot at the touch of a button. But it's now got to be old. Especially on a commercial vehicle I want something that is distinctive but not threatening.

[@turboconqueringmegaeagle9006]

@@tjm3900 motorbikes set the trend, I think cars are on track to follow the xenomorph trend which means in 10-15 years rather than looking like something that wants to kill me I'll be having nightmares about my toaster laying eggs in my face.

[@markrainford1219]

Oi, haven't you got a hole to dig? lol

[@turboconqueringmegaeagle9006]

@@markrainford1219 sorry I'll put the phone down.

[@deldridg]

How wonderful to see someone actively putting some nostalgia and modern "fun" into vehicles. We all need more of it IMHO. Now, can you bring these to Aus please? Cheers - Dave

[@68beetlevlog]

The dashboard is gorgeous 😍❤❤❤. I don't think they should make one change to it. It's perfect. And the idea that it's completely manufactured in Britain makes it way more desirable🎉

[@phillip0011]

All the technical elements are brilliant and absolutely welcome, but the overwhelming appeal to me is the stunning beauty of these marvellous workhorse vehicles! Highly practical and easy on the eye!

[@Schmiddko]

how cool cars can be only if someone really starts thinking, the backdoor mechanism is genius

[@steverees1936]

I love this vehicle and the fact that it's built in the UK and all parts are UK sourced is a huge plus. The fact that it's got the nostalgic 50's look is a major thumbs up for me and if I needed such a van then this would be the one I'd buy. It would also be great to see them design small practical cars with a 50's and 60's design 👌

[@zxcvb_bvcxz]

Just curious which UK battery manufacturers and PCB manufacturers it's using.

[@steverees1936]

@@zxcvb_bvcxz I'm also curious to know that. He was very vague about some of the suppliers and quite rightly so.

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Yes it’s great to have a decent UK vehicle but to be useful it needs to be at an affordable price point. As a sole trader currently using a Ford Transit Custom van I like the majority of tradesmen would and could not shell out a ridiculous £60 k plus VAT on such a vehicle. Particularly as with all electric goods vehicles the manufacturers state maximum miles per charge but never point out that your MPC will depend on the load your vehicle is carrying . This is of an absolutely vital consideration that appears not to addressed

[@steverees1936]

@@andrewarthurmatthews6685 this is a huge issue with electric vehicles and it just pushes the likes of me out of the market. I also have an issue with the lack of infrastructure throughout the UK, although that wouldn't be a problem if your delivering locally say in a city or town.

[@_Ben4810]

After Morgan Commercials founder & CEO Dr Qu Li's involvement in the demise & picking over the ruins of both MG Rover & LDV Vans, there's a certain irony to ''built in the UK'' when she's involved....Perhaps she just likes the beer here...?!?

[@avtomad722]

Absolutely love it, can't wait to see one in real life, it will brighten up the streets endlessly.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Indeed it does. Charming vans are in short supply

[@abuubaydullah1]

I had a J4 way back in the 70s when i was a young man with bench seats and table and this takes me back to being a young child going to the scrap yards with my grandfather(lots of morris je) they have done this build to the excellent standard of true British craftsmanship i say well done to all involved .

[@richardpowell723]

A real nice solution for the boutique van market. John's experience in the automobile industry is a great foundation for the business and the fantastic products on offer in this video.

[@tommypayne1980]

I'd buy one over a VW Buzz. It has a cool retro look with a better interior than the Buzz. Well done Morris.

[@meruliouslacrimens5154]

Who wouldn't want one? Brilliant idea. Rubber wheel arches, wouldn't ever rust, wow, Wish them all the success they deserve.

[@robote7679]

I'm in love! I've always enjoyed things with a genuine retro look and this van has it in spades. Just lovely. Nice going Morris!

[@MorrisCommercial]

Thank you very much, we do have a great looking AND very practical van!

[@blxtothis]

My first ‘car’ was an ex GPO Morris JB. Mine had sliding doors and rubber mudguards, those always caught out hitch hikers when they exited from the step as it was a natural instinct to put one’s hand and lever off to jump down. Those things just collapsed under their weight and dumped them on the ground before they could be warned. This version is quite a bit quicker than old Jaybee, that old beauty never made it to 60 mph! If I win the Euromillions I’m having on of these JEs, a fully specced out 5-6 seat mini-bus sounds about right.

[@michaelmorley6522]

Well done Morris, what a brilliant design. Deserves to be a massive niche success. People carrier will be in outrageous demand when launched.

[@norwegianzound]

Massive niche success. LOL

[@gmy33]

​@@norwegianzound like the aptera .. very weird but still 40k people qant one .. which is still niche

[@CowHorace]

It won't sell much.

[@ukqwerty999]

@@CowHorace It will sell plenty lol

[@CowHorace]

@Unicorn Of Truth remember when fuel was £2 a litre and we were all supposed to be buying electric cars, what happened when fuel prices dropped? Oh dear. Also the economy is on the knife edge of a recession, why buy an expensive van. 3rd point, Peugeot and others already make sizeable electric vans, this van is not special in any way.

[@davidrowley9513]

I just love the retro look. Always loved the original as it had its own style and was a practical van. I am sure people will want this.

[@yukonchris]

Very cool! I'm Canadian but I like the look of this van. To be honest, I think the blue one wins the "beauty contest" by a nose,. That said, the pink one is a uniquely good looking product. Honestly, make an all wheel drive variant with a little more ground clearance and make those quarter windows functional, just like in the old days, then focus on reliability with quality fit and finish and I think you could market this vehicle, successfully, almost anywhere. You know, I think the whole world is crying out for unique products that aren't just manufactured in the same place as everything else. This could be a winning recipe as long as you work to put the consumer first and then get the product out to those that want one. Cheers.

[@Isthatyoudermot]

One of my favorite coal lorries, was the Leyland FG, the cab and doors were designed to be able to open in tight spots, it also had windows at the front cab corners to aid visibility. This Morris is a great design too. I wish them every success. Nice work, Late Brake Show.

[@carlgray6764]

applause ... you have made a retro vehicle modern with some clever touches ... without losing the romance of the original ! look forward to seeing one on the road.

[@noexpensespentstudios]

The recycled carbon fibre offers another advantage for an urban working vehicle which is dent and rot resistance. It feels like a really nicely thought out vehicle that genuinely considers the needs of the market they're aiming at. The rear doors are superb and even the ubiquitous touch screen isn't particularly obnoxious. Here's hoping they have every success with this one. Absolutely love the pink too.

[@space.youtube]

"recycled CF" is a gimmick that has more to do with marketing than anything else. It enables the use of hyped buzz words "recycled" and "carbon fibre".

[@noexpensespentstudios]

​@@space.youtube Okay, great, glad you got that off your chest there. It's still a neat van using interesting materials, whatever language you use to describe it.

[@space.youtube]

@@noexpensespentstudios "Okay, great, glad you got that off your chest there" ? Yes, that's how comment sections work. Are you one of those thin skinned people who needs everyone to agree with them? If so, the internet may not be for you. "..It's still a neat van using interesting materials, whatever language you use to describe it." That's my whole point, it isn't. It's a marketing device, a pastiche designed to appeal to the sense of nostalgia of people who think £60K is a reasonable price for a novelty.

[@suide3275]

@space and arent you just unnecesarilly rude? Aren't you the one Who doesnt understand how to interact with other People even if it is via a comment section?

[@noexpensespentstudios]

@@space.youtube Oh aye, skin as thin as an onion, me. Anyway, it's still a neat van.

[@chrisgoebel8867]

Johnny, I confess that I avoided this episode because i imagined this to be based on a VW ID. Buzz. To my delight . I love the Morris, such character and so cleaver. My mum had an Austin 1950's and when i was a kid, my grandparents 1920/30's Austin was stored in one of our garages.

[@StephanBuchin]

Amazing how they retained the original design and still made it look really modern.

[@Android-vk8yh]

Jonny always gives us the best things to watch on bank holidays. My late father would I love this episode and so do I. Cuz I used to drive all sorts of vans for telecom when I was younger. Got a soft spot for Morris. I love the fact that that's a three seater across the front light. A Honda FRV I had. Could he not put another three row behind and make it a 6 seater for family and stick some little windows in? Also makes you proud to be British what this guy is doing. Yes, all the parts from Great Britain. Don't be ashamed to say we want to keep it British which is what a manufacturing should be keep jobs and skills here and export into other countries for a change.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Lovely comment, thank you. There are plans for an MPV version.

[@peebee143]

I think they're fabulous! And not just novelty in their looks but properly practical with payload and range. I wish them every success.

[@Cyclopsonlyseeshisdeath]

I have been looking at completely different vehicles, Mercedes AMG wagons, but this is now something I could use for my business that fits in with our design ethos, is AMAZINGLY good looking, AND can be used as a camper should I want. I can imagine some amazing camper conversions of this

[@Overworkt]

I love this concept - as I can only begin to imagine how difficult it is to get from an idea to production, I really hope for their success.

[@pechaa]

Beautiful doors - both on the sides and the rear! I’m so happy that you’re showing the industry how to build more lightweight vehicles. Roads (and their taxpayers), pedestrians, and cyclists will thank you.

[@IN_THIS_DAY_AND_AGE]

Lightweight? With a ton of batteries on board

[@chrisd924]

Finally, a van which makes both children and adults smile. So many cars and vans these days are so bland that you can hardly tell the difference between them. I do wish this British company all the best. P.s. Another great video Jonny.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

This is a beautiful little van!! I’m glad to hear that she’s 100% British!! And best of all, it’s ELECTRIC!!!!

[@chrisfs150]

Yes you can't beat a range of less than 50 miles and a charge time of over 30hrs with a price of £72000.. Yep Great.

[@phiteonn3541]

They say with songs, if you want a hit, rewrite an old tune. I can't see how these can fail, they're adorable

[@RustOnWheels]

This is epic on so many levels! I just love the looks, the concept behind it, the locally sourced parts and the use of recycled materials. Truly well done and I can’t imagine them not having success. This will look great in the city, especially next to the black cabs. Retro modern done right. Excellent!

[@michaellee8198]

Now you mention, how brilliant would it be for these beautiful vehicles to replace those black Chinese monstrosities on London streets, especially in some bright two-tones. What an image lift that would be.

[@kevjaybee3234]

Wow this has so much of that British coolness to it .I don’t need a van but would buy this just based on it looks .Let’s hope they bring out an electric morris minor

[@brothersofgunnaz]

Absolutely brilliant, it’s fantastic and I know it’s probably not PC to say that you don’t want anything Chinese in it. But I think that’s actually an attraction and a selling point for me, it’s nice to see something 100% British. I’d love one. It’s absolutely spot on! Plus that Pickup version is super cool!!

[@GlennDavidson]

PC doesn’t really come into where and why you’re sourcing parts unless you’re doing so because of some kind of bigotry against the actual people. Which would be a very odd way to do business. They’re obviously much smarter and more thoughtful than that, with some brilliant design choices. I do think the statement is a little meaningless and silly just because there is a reasonably high chance that some of their suppliers will use components or materials traceable to Chinese manufacture. Even if it’s something like rare-earth magnets in the drive-train.

[@mauserpad5111]

no way it doesnt have any chinese junk in it

[@charliekahn4205]

​@mauserpad5111 when you live in a nation-state, local parts are a legitimate selling point because it means you're contributing to a better economy by buying the product.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

All the electric stuff probably come from China As well as the camera and other gadgets.

[@chaymation2]

My father-in-law was an Austin man, he had a K8 and all sorts of other old cars. He would have loved this.

[@Andybarney555]

Those rear doors alone is a game changer!!. How its not been done. Well done that man!!. And as jonny said wind. Ive been a van man and rear doors... fu**er.. amazing thing. I want one as a camper!

[@davidpreston9909]

Couldn't agree more. Having been a courier driver myself and having had fork-lift drivers (do they look for the clumsiest people they can find for that job?) loading and unloading a Berlingo, those rear doors are a game-changer.

[@IanMcDougall-ns6hk]

Hi Johnny. seeing that original J type van bought back memories. My father and I had a car repairs workshop in South Norwood and we did the original resto probably in the 80's for a friend of my fathers . It has probably been redone a few times. Good to see it is still on the road.

[@patreekotime4578]

Yesss. If you have a vehicle that will rarely if ever do highway speeds, why NOT have fun with the design?? They might have a hard time keeping up with demand on this one. Its awesome. Heck of a way to promote your business too, getting one of these with your logo on it... who's not going to notice this? Also... the folks over at Transport Evolved have to be absolutely shook today! An electric Morris van!!

[@Choober65]

Now THAT is a work of art on wheels

[@patchthesinclair5896]

As a child I loved the J type It looked like a loaf and the baker had one, it appealed to my five year old sense of humour!

[@MyrddinREmrys]

I think these would be great for some vibrancy in the States as well. Love to see these tooling around in both rural and city settings. Just has that personality that's so compelling.!

[@splashpit]

Someone there should do the same using the international as the source material

[@basilboris]

What a great van! Hopefully it'll be a big seller as it clearly deserves to be. Also, your presenting style has got better and better over the years. You have a more chilled out style now, and it works. Keep the informative and entertaining videos coming 👍

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Many thanks Deez, really kind of you.

[@andymccabe6712]

@@TheLateBrakeShow you're doing REALLY well Johnny!! Anyone would think you'd been doing this for years........!

[@evvirtuoso]

AMAZING! I'd buy one if we could get them in the USA. I love British cars. I've owned them on and off for 50 years. (Yes I am old.) I've had a Mini, an Austin-Healey, a Triumph TR-6 and too many Jaguars to count. The British-made vehicles are made with love - they way all cars should be made.

[@MYJ61]

I’m thoroughly impressed. The style, the tech, the quality, the engineering. I’m sorry we won’t get it stateside most likely. More range than an E-Transit, gobs more character and luxury! I sincerely hope the get so many orders that they have to hire on more staff. I’m actually excited to see where this all leads.

[@philtucker1224]

I expect they will ship it wherever the customer wants..

[@philtucker1224]

They’re are plenty of people out there that are happy to spend £100k on a Bentley GT and as Jonny says this is actually a PR vehicle for companies to use at shows and touring the country for publicity purposes. I hope the makers get the investment that they seek…👍🇬🇧

[@Invisibleman7]

Excellent little big van. The mind boggles at the different applications this van could be used for.

[@mancsblue]

Hands down more appealing than the VW . I think this will be a success as there is already a market for old vans being restored and used for both advertising and light commercial use . So this takes that to the next level. Love the blue and white colour and imagine it will look amazing with some clever sign writing for each individual business

[@westho7314]

Vw has been building total junk since 1967. Amazing how many car and bike companies VW has its sticky fingers invested in..

[@johntalens686]

the design for me is just so cool and classic ..and the bright pastel color gave it the perfect touch .. im almost feeling the toy i had when i was young.. and this just brought it to life..

[@LT_Foxfyre]

This is brilliant! It's vehicles like this that make me excited about the future of EVs. I could definitely see some high-end businesses being interested in these. What a great way for a business to advertise itself in a spectacular way, while being extremely practical and well-suited to urban driving and last-mile delivery. I'm not much for being excessively advertised to, but I must admit that it would brighten my day to see this on the road. I really hope this makes it to production, and I hope that other brands are taking notes. I can certainly imagine other vintage vans getting this kind of resurrection - imagine brand new Citroën H vans with 21st-century materials, driver luxuries and drivetrains in the streets of Paris!

[@Charlie-UK]

Great episode Jonny, my family had an Austin J4 Camper-van, with a lift roof for years. We travelled all over the UK & Ireland in it, many happy memories. Great to see the brand reimagined for the future, and made in the UK, what a bonus !!...

[@NormanF62]

I love if! Its quirky, charming, colourful, retro and versatile. Looks fun to drive! The Morris JE van turns heads wherever you go because people aren’t expecting to see you behind the wheel and its classic looks make a statement! 😊

[@patrickgivens4900]

OMG! Let me test it for you in the USA! That looks like the perfect dry wall contractor work vehicle. Absolutely brilliant!

[@cornsyruptrucker]

I hope these retro styled EVs really make a comeback. Id love a 70s Caprice EV.

[@siviter]

I used to have a mini clubvan so I get the idea. I think from a manufacturing standpoint, they should simplify as much as possible, it has enough character to allow that. I would fit standard mirrors. make the dash just a huge shelf with a screen for phone mirroring. I would also look into wrapping vehicles over the carbon instead of paint because spray booths are so expensive. Wherever you can reduce or remove an option or process, you should.

[@lukebarnes8097]

I agree on the wing mirror front completely. I've never seen the point of cameras there instead of a mirror as they don't add anything other than a reduction in drag which is kinda unnecessary for a van. Backup cameras etc are useful, sure, but just slap some proper mirrors on the doors, they'd be more than good enough.

[@ethelmini]

@@lukebarnes8097 Certainly much less value in putting cameras where mirrors would be. Stick 'em on the headlights and have the blind spot advantages of old style wing mirrors with the disadvantages they were dropped for, in favour of door mirrors.

[@Chris-uh7cw]

18:12 "show me these back doors" also Johnny's favourite chat up line 😂 , cool van and British too 👌

[@SimonElliott-e5p]

Jonny this is awesome and makes me smile a lot.The fact someone had the vision to produce this is so British.