Not only has it returned, it will also be available in Spain: the Microlino (the electric version of the mythical Isetta) will hit our streets in 2023. And it will do so thanks to the agreement that Micro, the company that created it, has signed with Astara to distribute it both in Germany and in Spain.
The Microlino is already a reality in countries like Switzerland, where the first deliveries of the limited edition ‘Pioneer Series’ are already taking place. If everything goes according to the roadmap that Astara has designed for this small electric car, the Microlino will arrive in Germany and Spain very shortly: the first deliveries will take place in early 2023. They also add that they could incorporate additional markets in the coming months.
The microline is a light electric vehicle of class L7e: To drive it, you need a B license or the new B1 permit, a license intended for people over 16 years of age. The models included in this category must meet a series of requirements:
- Limited dimensions: cannot measure more than 3.7 meters
- Weight without batteries: must be a maximum of 450 kilos
- Power: less than 20 hp (15 kW)
- Maximum speed: cannot exceed 90km/h
Inspired by the Isetta
Drawing inspiration from the design created by Iso that gave life to the iconic Isetta (made under license by various brands such as BMW), the Microlino is a two-seater electric car that measures 2,519 meters long, 1,473 meters wide, 1,501 meters high and weighs 535 kilos with batteries included. It has been designed specifically for the city and has received the Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, the oldest design award in the world.
Like the Isetta, it has a single front door that opens next to the steering wheel giving way to a simple interior where, yes, we do not have an airbag. Something that they have tried to compensate with a monocoque structure of steel and aluminum, which is more resistant. To this we must add a 230-liter trunk that has its own gate.
The benefits of the Microlino
The Microlino is equipped with an electric motor of 17 hp (12.5 kW) and 89 Nm: features with which it can reach a top speed of 90 km/h. Equipped with a lithium-ion battery, it will be possible to choose one of the three available batteries: 6, 10.5 and 14 kWh; Depending on the capacity, autonomy will range from 91 to 230 kilometers. Recharging can be done through a charger that has a power of 1.35 kW for the access version and 2.6 kWh for the rest. Of course, taking into account its size, the times do not exceed four hours.
More than 35,000 people have already reserved a Microlino, but for now, prices for Spain are not available: on its website, it starts at 14,990 euros.
The origin of the Microlino
It was the year 2015 when Merlin and Oliver Ouboter (the two sons of the founder of Micro) began to develop the Microlino. Initially, it was, solely, an action with which they intended to attract customers at the Geneva Motor Show. The interest of the public was such that they decided to produce it in series: after several setbacks, Micro decided to completely redesign the vehicle and take over the production of the electric Isetta.
