COLOGNE: One of the world's most iconic microcars is making its comeback as an electric reboot for crowded urban environments.
A Swiss company has taken the 1950s cult Isetta and turned it into an battery-powered runabout called the Microlino, seating two people in just 2.50 metres of length and 1.50 metres in width.
Like the original, the Microlino has a front-hinged door and a narrow bench behind it for two people, making it easy to park and easy to get out of.
In the rear, the Microlino has 230 litres of boot space and enough room for a big weekend shopping trip (or three beer crates, the maker says).
Thanks to the folding roof, it's also one of the smallest convertibles in Europe. Propulsion comes from an electric motor with no more than 17 hp, but the car's light weight still means it can accelerate from a standstill to 50kph in 5 seconds.
It reaches a maximum of 90kph, making it better suited to city trips and less to cross-country travels. That becomes all the more clear when you realise the distance it can cover.
It's launching with a 10.5 kWh battery and a rather limited range of 177km, which will be followed in the coming months by two other configurations: 6 kWh for 91km and 14 kWh for 230km.
Charging will require patience, and you won't want to try covering several hundred kilometres in a day: according to the manufacturer, the first 80% of charge takes between three and four hours, depending on the battery.
Weighing less than 450kg, it's designed to slot into a light vehicle category, which in some countries such as France allows the vehicle to be driven without a full driver's licence. In the EU, the Microlino will fall under the L7E of heavy quadricycles.
Prices are set to start at €22,690 (RM113,000), the manufacturer announced and are set to fall below €20,000 (RM99,000) in options with a smaller battery.
Then again, you shouldn't be comparing this with anything near a Tesla: The manufacturers are marketing it as the "ideal mix between motorbike and car."
