Retro-inspired Microlino quadricycle gains Lite and soft-top variants

By James Attwood

18 Oct 2022

Swiss micromobility pioneer Micro has unveiled the production version of its bubble car-aping Microlino 2.0 at the Paris Motor Show – along with a new lower-speed Microlino Lite and a Citroën Merhati-inspired canvas-roofed concept version.

The Ouboter family founded Micro back in 1999 to sell kick scooters – and even claims to have helped coin the phrase micromobility. The firm expanded into e-scooter production in 2013, and began work on a four-wheel quadricycle concept two years later.

Inspired by the Isetta and other lightweight micro cars from the 1960s, the developed the Microlino 2.0, which was first shown in concept form at the 2016 Geneva motor show. The aim was to develop a two-seat quadricycle that could serve as an alternative to cars. Since then, Micro has been working on developing the production version, and claims to have already received more than 35,000 reservations.

It has now revealed the production version of the Microlino, and says deliveries of the Citroën Ami and Mobilize Duo rival have already begun in Switzerland, with France and other European countries set to follow next year. There is no word yet on UK availability.

Built to L7e light vehicle regulations, the Microlino uses a 12.5kW motor (with a peak power output of 19kW), which allows for a 0-31mph in five seconds and a top speed of 56mph (90kmh). It even gets a ‘sport’ mode.

It will be offered with a choice of 6kWh, 10.5kWh and 14kWh lithium-ion batteries, offering ranges of 56, 110 and 143 miles respectively. A 0-80 per cent charge takes four hours for the smallest and largest batteries, and three hours for the 10.5kWh unit.

As with other quadricycles such as the Ami and the City Transformer CT-1, a key selling point of the Microlino is its small footprint. It only takes up a third of the average parking space, and like classic 1960s micro cars the machine has an unusual front opening door, so when driven into a space the occupants can exit straight onto the pavement.

Two passengers can sit in the machine side-by-side, and there is 230 litres of luggage space – which the firm claims is enough for three crates of beer. We assume you can put things other than beer crates in there.

The machine will be offered in a range of 10 colours, and features a sunroof. Production of the Microlino is taking place in a joint factory in Milan with Italian firm Cecomp, and the machine has a starting price of ‘around’ €15,000 (£13,000).

The machine is unrelated to the Isetta-inspired Evetta micro car being developed by German firm Electricbrands.

Microlino Lite: meet the baby brother

The Microlino Lite revealed at the Paris motor show is a “close-to-production study” of a reworked version of the machine designed to fit the L6e quadricycle regulations. That means it will have a limited top speed of 28mph, but it does mean that it can be driven without a driving licence in certain countries such as France – opening it up for younger users.

While Micro claims the Litre model will have a similar range to the L7e version, it will differ in some aspects: there is black trim instead of the LED lights at the front and rear, and a new black front bumper to give a ‘rugged’ look.

The Microlino Lite is expected to go into production next year, with the firm saying pricing will be “slightly lower” than the more powerful car.

Microlino Spiaggina Concept: the summer cruiser

Micro also revealed a new concept version at the Paris show: the Microlino Spiaggina Concept, which is inspired by vehicles such as the Fiat 600 Jolly and Citroën Mehari and is designed for carefree summer cruising.

It’s effectively a rival to the Citroën My Ami Buggy: instead of the regular Microlino’s hard top three is a white-and-blue striped canvas top, while the machine is open on the sides and rear above the bodywork to “get a gentle breeze in hot summer weather”. We suspect it will be less fun on Llandudno seafront on a wet November day, but let’s see.

The show car also features a bold white and blue interior, and all the interior trim is waterproof, which might just offer some protection on that aforementioned trip to Conwy to see The Great Orme.

Micro says that the Spiaggina is set to go into production as a limited series model next year.

Microletta: the three-wheeled option

Micro might be focused on the Microlino, but it’s still looking at other forms of mobility. That included the Microletta electric three-wheeler, which was first shown in 2020.

The machine is essentially an electric moped rival, but with two front wheels in a bid to provide better grip when cornering and offer extra braking. There’a a removable battery with a range of more than 62 miles, and a top speed of 50mph. Its classification as a tricycle means that it can be driven with a car rather than a motorcycle licence in several European countries.

While the Miroletta is open for reservations, Micro says that it has yet to set a production start date because it is focusing on the Mircrolino range for now.