FRANKFURT: The retro-styled electric Microlino microcar will go on sale after being showcased at the Munich IAA Mobility car trade fair next month, the makers have announced.
The Microlino from start-up Micro Mobility Systems wowed the crowds at the Geneva motor expo five years ago before vanishing off the radar.
Since then the egg-shaped runabout has been revamped inside and out whilst retaining its cuddly looks and unique clamshell single front door. It opens outward to give access to a bench seat for the driver and front passenger.
The revised Microlino comes with new interior, improved safety features and a tougher chassis.
The styling harks back to the original Isetta trike "bubble car" of the 1950s but the lightweight runabout has four wheels for more stability.
Prices start at €12,500 (around RM63,000).
Despite its throwback looks, the Microlino has a modern drivetrain. The 20-kW electric motor will send the microcar buzzing up to a top speed of 90kph.
Range from the 14.4kWh battery is given as 200km. The pack can be recharged at a household mains socket in just four hours.
The 2.4 metre-long Microlino comes with integrated LED headlamps and light bars at both ends, digital instruments and state-of-the-art cockpit connectivity.
The microcar is ideal for commuters and will zip through the smallest gaps in traffic and squeeze into tight parking lots.
Owners will have to make do without airbags or ESP stability control though, which could make for a jiggly ride at speed.
The company said it has taken 22,000 pre-orders for the Microlino, with the first deliveries set for the end of this year.
