Microlino: Isetta for a new era

In 1955 the iconic BMW Isetta 'bubble car' was the first mass-produced car to deliver fuel consumption of 3.0L/100km. Now, a Swiss company wants to reinvigorate the design for the new era, in the form of the zero emission Microlino.

Dubbed "the next small thing" in the automotive world, the Microlino mini car comes from Swiss group Micro Mobility Systems AG, the same company that came up with the idea of the suitcase scooter and the micro scooter.

Measuring just 2.4 metres long – short enough for two to fit in a regular car space – the Microlino is powered by an electric motor, has seating for two, features a single front door for cabin access and features a number of neat features including a removable Wi-Fi stereo.

Currently in the prototype phase, the project got under way when the company gutted an original BMW Isetta to test its electric powertrain. It then began on the new model with a little help from Designwerk and ZHAW, the Zurich university of applied sciences.

Chinese car company Kandi Technologies was commissioned to build the first prototype vehicle which we clambered all over at the 2016 Geneva motor show.

The idea is intriguing and there's certainly a place for a vehicle of this stature in the megacities of the world. Despite its tiny size, cabin space wasn't as cramped as expected while there’s little doubt the 400kg machine is likely to be extremely manoeuvrable.

Details on the battery size and cruising range haven't been revealed, suggesting development on the powertrain is ongoing, but it does have a top speed of 80km/h.

Company founder Wim Ouboter, a Swiss native, said the Micro motto is simple: "Reduced to the max!". In a press statement his corporation castigated the likes of the BMW i8 which represents a "complete waste of resources" and is "too complex and too expensive".

"In 1998, I created and developed the world of urban mobility with the Micro Scooter. Soon it will be a vehicle with four wheels, which will change our way of thinking about economic and sustainable mobility," Ouboter said.

Micro Mobility Systems AG says the car has been developed with app-based mobility systems in mind, such as car-sharing and car-pooling platforms, and although no price has yet been mentioned, the company says the Microlino will be "affordable for everyone" whether renting or buying.

What would you pay for a Microlino? Have your say in the comments below.