Microcars are the need of the hour. There have been multiple attempts by various new and old automakers to ace the tiny car concept, but none seemed to have taken off well. A clunky gasoline engine was a tough squeeze into such tiny form factors and that is a major reason for the dull response towards this concept.
But that is slowly changing with the advent of EVs, as they don't require the traditional ICE-engine space. A quirky Swiss car has decided to make this a reality with a nostalgic twist. The Microlino 2.0 looks like a modern BMW Isetta. It is a quadricycle that is aimed at disrupting the cluttered urban mobility scene. Despite being tiny, the Microlino has no dearth of comfort, technology, and even space!
And it will be a breath of fresh air in the sea of electric cars for 2022. It is being offered in three series production models - Urban, Dolce, and Competizione; and one limited-run Pioneer Series model. The Microlino starts from 14,990 CHF (~$15,540) and tops out at 18,590 CHF (~$19,270). The Pioneer Series is priced at 20,990 CHF (~$21,760).
Microlino 2.0 is a quadricycle on a mission to rewrite urban mobility, by taking a lesson or two from the past.
Microlino 2.0 Is Powered By A Small Electric Motor
The Microlino 2.0 is categorized as a quadricycle and slides into the L7e vehicle class in Europe. But the automaker has put in the effort to make this tiny four-wheeler a sturdy machine. It is built on an unibody chassis which is rare for this category of vehicles that are mostly plagued with a weak tubular frame underpinning.
All the trim options offered for this city runabout are powered by a rear-mounted electric motor with a continues output of 17 hp. The maximum rating stands at 25 hp and an impressive 87 lb-ft of torque. The Microliono tops out at 56 mph and can do 0-30 mph in about 5 seconds. While the spec sheet is nothing to be wowed upon, this tiny bubble car is surely going to be a hoot to drive around. It comes with an independent suspension layout on all four wheels.
It weighs just 1,180 pounds which will make your daily commutes breezy. As for the battery packs, the company states that three variations are offered across the line-up. The smallest is a 10.5-kWh pack good for 59 miles of charge. Next up is a more efficient 10.5-kWh battery pack that bumps up the range to 109 miles.
And the top-spec unit is a 14-kWh battery pack that can do 143 miles on a full charge. Charging times from 0-80% capacity for the smaller pack is at two hours; the bigger 14-kWh unit takes three hours. These are figures achieved when plugged into the 220V standard European household socket. There is no mention of a fast-charging option.
Microlino 2.0 Interior Is Tiny Yet Fulfilling
The Microlino 2.0 seats two rather well for a car this tiny. The final interior design is much different from what they showcased back in 2018 with their first pre-production model. The physical buttons are gone, but the overall layout has become more efficient. There is a single door that opens the whole front fascia, just like it did in the car that saved BMW from bankruptcy.
But unlike the Isetta, the steering wheel is not attached to the front door. So, it just stays put in its standard position. The dashboard (if you can call it one!) consists of a bar that houses a tiny touchscreen unit that has the air-con, and other in-car controls. The automaker states that this screen can be customized with various buttons as per needs.
There is another LCD behind the steering wheel, which is the instrument cluster with a rather sporty layout. It has a bench seat wrapped in dual-tone white-gray vegan leather and highlighted by bright orange stitching and logos stitched into the headrests. Ingress and egress are via an electric button both inside-out.
Another cool comfort feature is a folding roof that has been developed by Magna Car Top Systems. This roof is optional on base models and can be operated using one hand with ease. So, is sort of a convertible as well! This tiny quadricycle is not dull on practicality as it comes with an 8 cu-ft cargo space.
Microlino 2.0 Design: BMW Isetta Of The Modern Era
If you look at the Microline 2.0 with its sole door open, then it is hard not to call it a BMW Isetta successor. The unibody is rigid and inclines a safety quotient with the door built out of reinforced steel. The body panels are made of aluminum.
The top-spec models come with cool light bars at the front and rear that span across the width. The headlights are quirkily placed on the back side of the rearview mirrors. The wheels are tiny and have a solid disc layout to them, and there are ten vibrant colors on offer for this tiny hoot.
Kicking Things Off With The Microlino 2.0 Pioneer Series
The Microlino has finally gone into production with the 2.0 Pioneer Series. This is a limited-run model which is capped at 999 units. The Pioneer Series Microline 2.0 packs the mid-level battery and comes with a bunch of optional features that include infinity light bars on the outside along with the optional sunroof.
On the inside, it gets heated front and rear glass, cross-stitched Dinamica, and vegan leather interior, and additional storage space between the seats. It also gets an exclusive Micro kick scooter packed into the tiny cargo space. The Pioneer Series is offered in two exclusive shades - Atlantis Blue and Torino Aluminum Matte. Both are accompanied by retro-vibing white wheels.
Sources: Microlino Car, Microlino Via Facebook