A Small Car with Big Attitude
In the land of Luxembourg, where even a trip to the bakery seems to require a vehicle the size of a small tank, the Microlino is causing quite a stir. This pint-sized electric car zips through traffic like it’s playing hide and seek with Range Rovers. It’s not just small. It’s practically a mobile phone with wheels.
The Microlino is a Swiss-designed, Italian-built microcar that looks like the lovechild of a bubble and a retro scooter. It’s got two seats, a boot that fits three crates of beer (priorities), and a front door that opens like a fridge. Yes, you read that right. You enter through the front. It’s either genius or madness. Possibly both.
Specs That Fit in a Teacup
Let’s talk numbers. The Microlino 2.0 comes with a 17 horsepower electric motor and a top speed of 90 km/h. It’s rear-wheel drive and has a range of up to 230 km depending on the battery size. There are three battery options: 6 kWh, 10.5 kWh and 14 kWh. Charging takes about four hours using a regular household socket. No need for fancy charging stations. Just plug it in next to your toaster.
It’s 2.5 metres long, 1.5 metres high and weighs around 500 kg. That’s less than some people’s weekly grocery haul. The boot space is 230 litres, which is surprisingly generous for something that looks like it should come with a toy steering wheel.
The Price of Being Adorable
The Microlino starts at around €15,000. That’s cheaper than most electric cars and definitely cheaper than therapy for road rage. It’s marketed as the perfect second car.
It’s produced in Turin, Italy, by Micro Mobility Systems. The company prides itself on combining Swiss engineering with Italian flair. So basically, it’s punctual and stylish.
Safety or Sideshow?
Now, about that front door. It’s quirky, yes. But it also raises eyebrows. In a crash, you might find yourself exiting through the windscreen—intentionally. The Microlino does have a reinforced steel and aluminium safety cell, which sounds reassuring until you remember that most other cars on the road could eat it for breakfast.
It’s classified as a quadricycle, which means it doesn’t have to meet the same safety standards as regular cars. So while it’s fine for city driving, you might want to avoid jousting with lorries.
Reliability and Realism
The Microlino is built for short urban trips, not cross-country adventures. It’s reliable in the sense that it does what it says on the tin. It gets you from A to B with minimal fuss and maximum charm. Just don’t expect it to survive a duel with a Luxembourgish SUV.
