Microlino, the world’s cutest microcar, releases a playful new model

The Microlino has turned heads ever since its unveiling nearly eight years ago. After taking a twisting, turning route towards production, the electric microcar has since proven to be a potent and fashionable little runabout in cities around Europe. Now the little EV is getting a makeover with the unveiling of its newest version, the Microlino Spiaggina.

The Microlino isn’t actually a “car” in the conventional sense, instead fitting into the L7e category of quadricycles in Europe. This allows it to operate at speeds of up to 90 km/h (56 mph) without meeting many of the more stringent requirements for passenger cars.

But that doesn’t mean that the pint-sized electric vehicle skimps on safety. Its production relies on automotive-level design and fabrication principles for the chassis to create a safe cockpit for its two occupants.

And now with the new Spiaggina model, it’s easier than ever to get a peek inside that chic cockpit.

The Spiaggina is influenced by several other vintage automobiles, the company explained. “Inspired by legendary beach cars like the Fiat 600 Jolly and Citroen Mehari, the Microlino Spiaggina merges retro aesthetics with modern technology,” read a press document.

The updated design removes the side and rear windows from the Microlino, offering either an open top fun-mobile setup or a fabric canopy to hide from the sun.

The interior is designed with “high-quality vegan leather, especially developed for use on motor and sail yachts to be particularly resistant to moisture,” explained the company. “This makes it perfect for coastal drives or a day at the beach.”

It’s a model that’s been in the works for quite some time, added Microlino Co-Founder Merlin Ouboter. “The Microlino Spiaggina is an idea we’ve had in mind for years, and it’s finally become a reality. It will be the most stylish vehicle for Europe’s summer destinations like Portofino, St. Tropez, or Ibiza.”

The Microlino Spiaggina appears to offer the same drivetrain and performance specs as the existing Microlino models. A 12.5 kW motor offers speeds of up to 90 km/h (56 mph). The 10.5 kWh battery pack is said to provide a maximum range of up to 177 km (110 miles).

A 2.2 kW charger allows the Microlino to be recharged from any household outlet, though a higher-power charger can replenish the vehicle’s battery in as little as 2-4 hours.

At just 2.5 meters long (8’3″), the little two-seater is designed to fit easily in parking spaces that wouldn’t be possible for most other vehicles. It also features 230 liters (8 cubic feet) of storage in the rear, meaning owners don’t totally have to sacrifice utility.

The new Microlino Spiaggina makes its world debut at the Paris Motor Show today. Reservations can be placed for the €24,990 microcar, with deliveries expected to begin early next year.

Electrek’s Take

The Microlino’s design has long been a crowd favorite, evoking an emotional response that many microcar companies have only dreamed of creating. Of course, such specialty vehicles are going to be pricier, but 25k is some serious change!

Those of you who feel you can slum it with the base model of the Microlino might be happy to know it starts at closer to 17,000 euros, or around US$19,000. Still, that’s not exactly an impulse purchase.

Or perhaps it is. Anyone driving a Microlino obviously has some spending money. This isn’t the microcar you buy when you’re on a budget. There are other more economical models for that. This is a Swiss microcar that looks like a Swiss microcar and carries a corresponding Swiss price.

If you can get past the sticker shock, I think there’s a lot to like here. I’ve sat in a few of these at various shows and they’re actually really nicely designed. The trunk isn’t huge, but there’s still space for several shopping bags back there. For my wife and I, this would be an incredibly fun and stylish city car. Those of you who are weighed down by kids might find this two-seater a tough sell, but the rest of us would love to zip around the city in a fun ride like this! Now I just need to sell a kidney so I can buy one…