Yahoo Autos The Microlino 2.0 Wants to Make Bubble Cars Fun Again
Microlino 2.0 revealed is production form at the Munich IAA, with plans for three battery options/trims.
With a maximum projected range of 143 miles when optioned with a 14-kWh battery, the Microlino 2.0 should offer urbanites plenty of driving distance.
The bubble car will be built in Italy and is expected to go on sale in Switzerland first before other EU states, with a starting price around $14,000.
After facing some development headwinds, the Isetta-styled Microlino 2.0 is headed into production, combining retro bubble car packaging with an electric drivetrain. The Munich IAA Mobility show served as the launch point for the pocket-sized EV.
Featuring a 56-hp motor, the two-seater is slated to be offered in three battery flavors/trims: Urban with a 6-kWh battery, Dolce with a 10.5-kWh battery, and Competizione with 14-kWh of juice on tap. These three versions will serve up projected ranges of 60, 109, and 143 miles, respectively, allowing the bubble car to exceed the ranges of some much larger electric models currently on sale. The Microlino 2.0, of course, won't be venturing out on the autobahn with its top speed of 56 mph.
The good news with batteries of this size is that charging time should not be an issue either—the company says that the Microlino can be recharged with a wall outlet in just four hours.
The Microlino was first previewed in concept form several years ago, so its journey from concept to production readiness has not been short. The company expects the initial production volume to be 7500 units a year with over 24,000 buyers having already placed reservations for a car, which will be built in Italy and sold in EU countries, starting in Switzerland first.
