Raphael ThysThe BMW Isetta-inspired micro two-seater will start rolling off its production line later this year.
Swiss manufacturer, Micro Mobility Systems AG, has debuted the final production version of its cute-as-a-button Microlino battery-electric micro car.
Dubbed Microlino 2.0, the BMW Isetta-inspired two-seater will go into production later this year, after first being shown to the public at the Geneva motor show in 2016.
Since then, the company has received around 24,000 reservations for its micro car, which will go into production at the company’s factory in Turin, Italy.
“After several years of development and more challenges than we could have imagined, we are beyond proud to show the series version of the Microlino for the first time,” said Micro Mobility Systems’, Wim Ouboter.
Three model grades – Urban, Dolce, and Competizione – will be offered at launch, along with three different battery capacities.
The entry-level model is the Urban, the company promising a no-frills approach to design. Available in just two colours – white or orange – the Urban edition features a fabric interior and hard roof (although a folding fabric sunroof can be optioned).
The Dolce variant comes in a choice of five retro colours highlighted by chrome garnishes. A folding fabric sunroof comes fitted standard (although buyers can option a hardtop, if they prefer) while inside, the seats, dashboard and steering wheel are trimmed in a mix of fabric and vegan leather.
The top-of-the-range Competizione adds a palette of three matte colours, complemented by a contrasting gloss black roof.
Power comes from a 12.5kW/118Nm electric motor with peak output of 19kW. Acceleration from 0-50km/h is rated at 5.0 seconds while top speed is 90km/h.
Three lithium-ion battery options are available: a 6kWh pack with 95km of range, 10.5kWh for a range of 175km, and a 14kWh pack with 230km of range. Charging times are rated at between three and four hours to 80 per cent capacity on a normal household socket.
Inside, there’s seating for two behind the outward folding canopy while cargo capacity is listed at 203 litre, or as Micro’s spec sheet proclaims, ‘three crates of beer’.
The company currently has capacity to produce around 7500 cars annually but remains hopeful of scaling up if the demand is there. Pricing for the Microlino starts at around €12,500 (AUD$23,500).
Rob Margeit has been an automotive journalist for over 20 years, covering both motorsport and the car industry. Rob joined CarAdvice in 2016 after a long career at Australian Consolidated Press. Rob covers automotive news and car reviews while also writing in-depth feature articles on historically significant cars and auto manufacturers. He also loves discovering obscure models and researching their genesis and history.