First driving test Microlino: this is how the retro Isetta drives

How much space do you actually need in a car to get from A to B? Is an SUV or station wagon necessary? Well, not for most daily rides, if you’re honest. In principle, two seats and some storage space are enough, as Smart has already proven. The Microlino is a suit from the same cloth. With the small electric cart, the Swiss manufacturer Micro wants to counter the trend of ever-increasing cars and show what mobility could look like. So we report to Zurich. Micro is located on the top floor of a house; a sheet metal worker is located on the ground floor. There are only cute spherical cars in front of it, called Microlino. Already at the first sight you have to smile immediately. “We wanted a timeless design that builds on the design of the midget cars of the 1950s,” said Merlin Ouboter, Micro’s director of marketing. The forward-hinged door naturally evokes direct associations with the BMW Isetta. However, that does not mean that the Microlino is simply a copy. It looks modern thanks to the continuous light bands at the front and rear and the LED headlamps integrated into the door mirrors.

Micro Microlino

Not a spartan device

We open the door and take a seat. You cannot adjust the steering wheel and steering column and we are sitting on a bench. A closer look reveals that this little car is equipped with heating, a Bluetooth audio system, a smartphone holder and even heated seats. Despite its compact size, it is therefore not a spartan device. We release the handbrake, put the gear selector in D and drive off. It soon becomes clear that the curb weight of approximately 500 kilos is child’s play for the only 15 hp electric motor. Even with two people on board, driving uphill at 50 km/h is no problem. The car has a top speed of 90 km/h, which feels much faster. You will experience driving pleasure in the Microlino, for example when cornering. Thanks to the relatively large rear track and the independent wheel suspension, you can easily chase it through a bend. The steering is unpowered and its transmission is pleasantly direct.

It is, however, quite noisy in the prototype we drove due to the lack of insulation material. This will be improved in the run-up to series production, as will the high seating position. However, the sympathy factor is already huge. People look around, take out their smartphones and watch us. Never before have we attracted so much attention in a small car with a length of 2.43 meters. Speaking of size, the Microlino not only offers space for two people, but also for luggage. You can even easily store two crates of beer in the luggage compartment.

Micro Microlino

Enough energy

It is now time to set course for home base, although the battery still has enough energy to drive further. The manufacturer indicates a maximum range of 125 kilometers for the 8 kWh battery and even 200 kilometers in the case of the 14.4 kWh battery. After four hours of charging via the wall socket at home, you can go on the road again with a full battery.

The Microlino is currently in the homologation phase, but the first copies are expected to be delivered at the end of this year, with a price tag of approximately €12,000. According to the manufacturer, there are now about 22,000 people who have shown interest. Mind you, that was before the performance at the IAA in September. You shouldn’t see the Microlino as a full-fledged car, but for short trips and commuting it could be an option.

The BMW Isetta was clearly the example for the Microlino. Between 1955 and 1962 BMW built the Isetta, a 2.29 meter short ‘Motocoupé’. This was a license-produced variant of the Italian Iso Isetta, which was equipped with improved technology by BMW. The single-cylinder four-stroke engine from the motorcycle division of the brand produced 12 or 13 horsepower (Isetta 250/300). A typical feature of all Isettas: the steering column swings to the side together with the front door to facilitate entry.