A must see. Microlino - The small next big thing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- Test and review of Micro's Microlino, the new Swiss city vehicle, inspired by the iconic Isetta. Mobility Insider, hosted by Morten Hannesbo.
Filmed in Switzerland in Januar, 2023, by DNTS Productions.
An update of the legendary BMW Isetta but all electric! Its not going to be a primary car for most people but as a second vehicle for around the town jaunts, its the ticket. Looks cute, fun to drive, will turn heads and bring smiles to people’s faces wherever you go!
maybe make it a more HUD display cuz obviously no dashboard space lol
I'd rather say a _copy_ of the original Iso Isetta, which then licensed it to BMW and sold the whole production as well. I thought only the Chinese dared to blatantly copy the designs of others. Also, I don't think it will be fun to drive all sweaty in that box with no air conditioning. Costs twice as much as more comfortable cars and brings no advantage.
An update of the Iso Isetta. BMW built them under license
We bought a used fiat 500 for groceries in town. I would love to have this. Unlikely to see it in Canada though.
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I love the Microlino, it’s a beautiful vehicle. ❤
"will they find customers for these cars?" Heck I cant wait to get my hands on one!
This is the first electric car I actually want. I'd have one of these for round town, commuting and shopping and keep my Jag for out of town trips.
I desperately want these to come to the states so that I can purchase one! I adore these little vehicles!
This is all I need a car to do. It would fit my modest lifestyle. But I understand it will be very expensive here in the UK.
Friendly & Professional review of a car. Great to have someone go through the story in a language most of us can understand, leaving out all the tech-savvy words. Excellent Job, and thank you, Morten.
Looking forward to more reviews in the future.
Thx, Jørgen
Professional lol. When he states power/100km lol
A practical EV application for around town. Most EV purchases don't make sense but for short distances, this one works.
Does a 300 mile range not make sense? Multiple options have greater than 200 mile range....
People here in Australian cities who drive 4WD vehicle’s probably would not be interested in one of these, at least until you tell them how short trips in their diesels is costing them extra maintenance costs and drastically shortening the engine life and then explaining how the Microlino as a second vehicle is the solution. Unfortunately I doubt that the Microlino would be allowed on Australian roads as I don’t think it would meet the crash safety standards.
Awesome, I remember the original bubble cars! This must be a winner!
The Isetta was a very innovative concept.
Very fitting to pay it homage with another local focus idea.
Much more convenient in bad weather than my Onewheel.
¡ONEWHEEL, bro! Nice ride. My next birthday present....
It's always great to have more choices. This wouldn't work for me, but for many people it would be perfectly fine. I wish them the best.
the Citroen Ami is a city car, this one you can also use to travel inbetween cities. It all reminds me of the Smart car.
Ehm, no. Between cities is not only not comfortable, at all, it has no range, as city vehicles do not need it, charging is VERY slow, meaning over night at home, not between cities. The AMI costs one third of this, you have to really like the stile to pay this much money instead of getting a real car. Dacia Spring is cheaper and can charge in an hour or less, better range, 4 seats, small boot.
This is WAY overpriced. Like the Twizy was.
@@chrisspain Thanks for the insight because most car reviewers (mostly the Brits) are very enthusiastic about the microlini.
@@belgianfries3739 It is a really nice vehicle, don´t get me wrong. It is overpriced, grossly overpriced, thats all. I do not know how many people have the money for a little plastic runaround that can be had for a third of the price. Like the AMI, it is still not highway legal, like the AMI it only seats two, no real heating or cooling, deathtrap or at least knee injuries guaranteed, it comes down to design. Yes, it looks brilliant and you know why? because the man (and only man) of a certain age like the presenter (good job) or most reviewers and also viewers, remember the original bubble car. You wanted it then. You want it now. You know how much an original Isetta fully restored costs? Double that of the microlino, because, the boys then can afford the thing today.
There is a company in Wales that electrifies any car. 80% of the orders are old, then bog standard, cars. A mini cooper, the real deal, not the BMW monstrosity, 2CV, VW bug ect. People pay easily 20-30k for that. And if it is worth it to them, great.
This is a replica. Why pay the same?
At first glance, I thought BMW brought back the Isetta but the Microlina is just as good and electric. Hope I’ll be able to own one after I purchase a house in Europe.
Other than bicycles, I am sure something like this is the future of personal transportation.
Space efficient personal transportation is already here and it's called moped
@@dddf27 Try something that can keep the rain and snow off, then we'll talk.
@@TharzZzDunN Incase it start raining while you drive your moped you can wear raincoat and continue driving. For snow you should take the train
I love small cars (I drive a Fiat 500) so I think this is a very cool car. Reminds me of the BMW Isetta from the 50's. I almost bought a used Isetta back in the 70's when they were relatively available here in San Francisco. Wonder if the Microlino could handle the hills here?
I mean its basically the same car in every physical dimension on the outside. Wonder if this would count as plagiarism.
I almost bought one back then, until my mother said that if I was killed in an accident, they could bury me in the car. I got a Beetle instead.
Nice Review Morten. Can't wait to see your coming videos.
When I was a kid in the 1950's we called them Bubble Cars. Everything old is new again.
What a great little city car.
It's such fun to look at. I want one 🤩
It is $15,000 USD. At that price there are many options. The XEV YO-YO is priced very near that.
Can't wait to see these out on the roads
I love it. Perfect city car. ❤
Indeed, it loves the city and vice versa. The smiles and thumbs up you get is incredible
What an amazing reviewer I have discovered. I like your style, please keep up the good work! 👌
Thank you for your kind comments. A couple of new videos will appear over the next two weeks; Genesis GV70 electrified and Tesla Model Y, enjoy!
And the key to any bubble car type is going into a front bump when the door is pushed backwards, your means of escape is zero, so you are trapped. And as found with many of its predecessors they were death traps. So folks think before you buy this or any other Bubble Car with a front door opening.
I asked the manufacturer about this. Their answer is that it is unlikely that the door will be blocked, however, in any case exit through the roof is possible.
We need them licence built in the UK as RHD models please ! Just like BMW did with the original Isseta :)
I doubt this will happen, unfortunately. Re-design of the door would be very expensive
@@morten_hannesbo It was achieved in the 1950s when the originals were made under licence in the UK :)
The British built Isetta I owned was a LHD.
@@MiscellanyandQuirk My friend's mothers one was RHD but I too have also seen LHD ones as well
I drove a LHD isetta for a few years,, the car is so narrow it didn't really compromise your road position, it's not like you will need to overtake many artic lorries on a B road with a top speed of about 56mph, which was about the same as the original bubble car.
As a kid in England I loved the kids puppet program Noddy.
His car was just as small.
Can't imagine for big beefy guy's, this is going to be the city car of choice.
But for the office mouse sure.
Really neat! I'd like to see them come to the States.
They have to establish western Europe outside of Italy and Switzerland 1rst. Give it 1-2 years at best unfortunately.
Never going to happen. Can't meet US safety standards for cars. Same reason you don't see any of the cheap, light Chinese or Indian minicars sold here.
@@amightysailingman How do you know? All this push for EV vehicles by this administration. There is some pretty small vehicles here already in Arizona that don't look that 'safe' electric AND gas. Don't be so sure of yourself.
@@bobmalack481 You know nothing about the federal regulations. This "push" won't do anything to weaken them. You're the one who's arrogantly thinking you can judge which cars meet regulations just by glancing at them.
@@amightysailingman Federal 'regulations' come and go, and alter depending on which administration is in office. Globalists would love for us to go 'green' and plug in. C'mon man..whudya think, we were gunna go fuel cell cars that was the big next thing/potential anti fossil fuel options10 odd years ago, what ever happened to that Mr. federal regulations minister?..LOL!!
Can you imagine the problems would encounter trying to travel on our expressways! My little VW was buffeted around traveling on these roads back in the 1960s
VW has all the weight at the back and was notorious for handling problems in the wind or buffeted by other vehicles passing. Microlino has an even weight balance so unlikely to have the same issues ... however I think it's mainly intended for narrow city streets in European cities rather than fast roads.
It’s a beautiful little thing. But the transmission was very loud whine - I don’t think I could put up with that for long. Perhaps they will change this on the later models?
Yes, they confirmed that production models will be improved and the whine reduced
@Peter Gilbert: Neither could I!
@@michaelbacon561 The whine will decrease in bulk production, the early units will be improved afterwards, I believe. The transmission unit needs more noise insulation and calibration. The noise is ok in daily use, though, just like on a motorbike one tends to accept more noise.
Problem is, it will probably not be sold in the U.S.
For good reason. You want at least know, that the F-250 Raptor driver notices when he crushes you. With this he wont, putting it down to a nasty pothole.
Unfortunately, they will never allow this vehicle here in Canada. I would love to have one.
The front opening would make it so much easier for me to use in any home with a garage or driveway I have had in the uk.
Think it’s a Smart innovative design based on The isetta of the past I’d Love one as City of the Future .. 👍😎
I'm looking forward to seeing these on the roads.
Excellent review! I hope they come to the United States. Enjoy your Microlino....
nice. I like the classic design with modern lights and electric drive. Step two: the Messerschmidt Kabinenroller, please!
Would be a great " get the kids to school vehicle" if a few more seats were viable. Then I think it would be a great all round city alternative to a car.
They used to have something similar in the 1960s we called them bubble cars
already in the early fifties these were popular
If it gets you from point A to point B thats all that matters
Nicely done
Thx
Beautiful design. Love this.
Love it !! Gotta have one !!!!!
Beautiful looking , surprisingly noisy, is it a1 or 2 seater ?
It is a two seater.
The way the front opens reminds me of the old bubble cars
Love it! Very urbane. What's the production ramp looking like at this point?
For Europe in 2023, ca 2500, then 5000 in 2024 and 11000 in 2025
@@morten_hannesbo Thanks, all the best! o/
It's really up to the Insurance / Government Collusion Co's as to weather we can afford these.
I need one. Please don't make them in Switzerland because, otherwise, nobody will be able to afford them except for the Swiss.
😊It will be made in Italy
Instant smile and urge to hug!👍👍👍
Brilliant... I will maybe upgrade my Smart 450 in the future... Will it be available right hand drive tho 🤔
Unfortunately no
This looks like it should sell like hot cakes, I wish I could get one in the USA that would be most excellent.
Would Americans want to only be able to drive 60 km ?
@@katella with me all I need is to be able to get to the store the post office and a few other places that are all within 25 km
It has no air conditioning. Now do you still think it's great?
@@pistonburner6448 the windows roll down. Like they say 2 at 55 air circulation. I have had cars before with no air-conditioning.
@@mysticwolf2842 No, the windows literally do not roll down. They do pull back (first versions had them close back up on their own when braking due to a design flaw/poor quality). And that is far from a replacement for air conditioning.
I have no idea what you mean with 2 at 55 air circulation.
You are not the center of the world, and you seem to be far from a reliable source for anything and I suspect you're just making excuses. Most people definitely will not accept losing basic modern comforts and sweating themselves to a pulp in a little box...which they overpay for massively.
Great for basic commuting. Does it have reverse?
Yes, it can reverse
Holy hell, this looks like a porta potty on wheels... crazy, just crazy!
😋
Modern lamps helps make it less necessary to NEED a large lamp. That’s cool. I don’t see this being used in high speed highways but I never expect to want to live in places like that. A big city and rural territory car, as I see it.
I wish they would come to the US but probably no chance.
No idea. Will ask the founders next time I meet them. I doubt it, though.
US market unlikely to see the Microlino
@@morten_hannesbo And Aptera is unlikely to be brought to the EU. And they're looking for final phase investment
If only like minded and connected people who want to see the push for electrification can help one another out? 🤷
Don’t be so sure, the SmartForTwo made it. If the developer doesn’t intend to or even try, it won’t.
If it did, the dealers would add on Customer Demand and raise the price too high and ruin its chances.
I hope this becomes popular and they can apply economy of scale, because 16k euro for tiny car with no ABS or airbags is a lot.
Will they be offering a right hand drive version for the UK market I wonder?
very unlikely, unfortunately
How much does it cost?
as tested, 21000 EUR
Fantastic!
Very nice video, interesting car, great presenter. Nice. :)
thx 🙏
I am very impressed by the Microlino, yet you Have Not given us any idea of the price range of it ? Or in what countries can we esily access The Microlino ?
I live in Liverpool England, without the Answers to my Questions we are at a Dead End !
It is a fine little runner indeed. The price in Europe us 17-21000 EUR (pricey...). Microlino has yet to decide if they will make a RHD version.
This looks so safe!
How is your performance uphill and with all the weight?
is ok but not impressive.
I have looked but I don't seem to find footage of someone getting in the vehicle.. its like they don't want to show it on camera
Only way in is the front door
@@morten_hannesbo i know that .. I just want to see how much of a struggle it is
There's a tutorial on how to get inside the car on Microlino's YT Channel
1:51, "you've got a front wiper to keep the screen clean on a rainy day"
No 💩 Sherlock!😂🤣😂🤣
Seriously though, I absolutely love the Microlino!. Really hope it comes to the UK🤞
Yes, sometimes one does say rubbish😀😀
this is basically the same as the Isetta from the 50s. The front opening door was a death trap and led to the discontinuance of the model. This is a bad idea, and I’m surprised that they would try to reinvent a failed vehicle.
I absolutely love this car. I was smitten the first time I saw it last year in another video and even more so this week when I saw it in a Milan showroom. My only concern would be that if you had someone park inconsiderably at the front and back (thinking of not being able to reverse to solve this if there was no room at the back) , it might be difficult to get the door to open wide enough to get in. But other than that this is the only electric car I would seriously consider.
It needs just a few cm to open - unlikely to be an issue, which also sometimes happens to normal cars😋
@@morten_hannesbo I suppose you could always do a pre purchase test and back/front it up against a wall to test it out. I obviously hadn’t taken into account that you can park it nose to the kerb.
@@morten_hannesbo Its not the space to open, its the space to walk up to door w bags, take off your coat, put away stuff and get in, etc... cars often need to park in a line, even bumper to bumper.... terrible place to get in over the front bumper.
You could probably pick it up on one end and turn it 90 degrees
@@Ronny_van_Gerwen not if you’re blocked in from both ends.
This version in a longer wheelbase and larges battery would make a great post office delivery vehicle. Specifically, the one that delivers paper mail.
Microlino plans a cargo version for 2025
@@morten_hannesbo I would say one seat for just the driver. Then the rest would be cargo. For paper mail and food delivery, or local Uber this is just great. I think the US should also make a micro class of vehicles legal so that we can have cars like this to save gas.
Is this legal in the US?
Unfortunately, no
@@morten_hannesbo maybe one day
@@Mxy-ff4zk Will ask the founders
It looks great.
Looks like a fun and practical vehicle! What's the top speed and price?
90km/h and around 20k€ depending on what spec and battery size you’re choosing
@@Luisfffrrr thanks!
Hi Alex, 90 km/h top speed. Prices start at 16000 EUR. As tested; 21000 EUR.
@@morten_hannesbo thanks for confirming! :)
So it’s twice the price of the Isetta (adjusted) with 1/3 of the range (at best) but without the confort of having the steering wheel attached to the door to facilitate entrance.
Nice, but when will it be available? It was announced some years ago, now they say in Q3/2023. Let's see...
The serial production has begun. The first customers in Suisse already get their vehicles.
Nice little car but very expensive. This is why not much people would like to go and take an electric car like this. A small range and the cheapest one is around 15k euro. I can buy a petrol car for that money and i'm not the only one thinking like this. Don't get me wrong, I would like to drive this car and it suits my needs. But the price is holding me back and i don't own a car at this moment.
Thanks for sharing!
Are they bringing these Microlinas to America? They will sell like hotcake over here 👍
Do you have to have a driving license, insurance, road tax and m.o.t. in The U.K. for one of these and are they available in The U.K. Please?
Hi RM 713 - The Microlino is a quadricycle in the category L7e. As it has more than 6kw of power (but less than 15 kW) it requires a full car licence to legally drive it on UK roads. Small quadricycles with max. 6 kW of power just need a motor cycle license - please note that the rules in the UK may vary since BREXIT and depend on when your licence was acquired, but this is my current information.
I asked the manufacturer of Microlino if they plan to export to the UK - their answer is that for the moment no decision has been made, but export of the LHD-version would be possible. A new development of a RHD-version is not on the drawing board for the moment.
...and yes, you need insurance and must pay road tax etc.
In Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, France the minimum age is 18 years + category B driving licence. In Switzerland, the minimum driving licence required is category B1 (small and three-wheeled motor vehicles with an unladen weight of not more than 550 kg). Insurance for a Microlino is about 40-50% cheaper than for a normal very small passenger car. For for the Swiss market, a full package consisting of third party liability, fully comprehensive and parking damage insurance is offered at a cost of CHF 550 annually.
I wish they would bring it to Australia
Wish wish wish it would come to Australia
The Swiss answer to Aptera?
I think you made a good quality video - thank you - but it would be improved by correcting the caption about consumption about one minute into the film. The caption states consumption, by which I presume you mean energy use, in kilowatt units when of course it should be kwh - kilowatt hours. This is a missed opportunity to educate the wider public about power, efficiency and range.
got it, thx
Will it be available in Australia?😁
Very unlikely unfortunately as it is under EU type approval L7E
We need something like that in the USA.
Interessant wäre es mit ihm eine Passstrasse zu testen. Hat er die nötige Leistung um bergauf zu fahren?
Ja, kein Problem, bin auf 1000 Hhm gewesen (600 Hhm, steil @8-12%).
(Gotta learn German - it sounds so cool!!)
@@meredithheath5272 😁
@@meredithheath5272 I asked if the car has enough juice to drive a steep slope uphill. In the meantime I actually test-drove the Knutschkugel myself and have to say I'm impressed by the agility and power. Less impressed by high speed.
The bubble will burst when you see the price
I actually think the price is ok - it is a small volume vehicle with proven technology from a large European EV manufacturer.
Safety features were not discussed. Are your knees the primary frontal crash avoidance devices as they were in the Isetta???
Basically the Microlino is categorized a motorcycle and topspeed limited to 90 km/h. The structure is crash resistant but this is not a car.
So they are a deathtrap.
@@miskatonic6210 No, that is not really true. The Automotive unibody structure
First in its class, the Microlino features a self-supporting unibody that improves safety and driving behavior compared to the tubular frame of other vehicles in its class. It feels quite safe to drive and of course it has safety seat belts.
@@morten_hannesbo Thank you for your reply. I want to assure you that my question was genuine, not sarcasm. 90km/h or 56 mph here in the USA is pretty fast. 30 mph or 48 kp/h is enough to get seriously hurt in a front end accident. With no bumpers, no airbag, and no special structural strengthening I would be hesitant to drive/own one of these. They are cute, like the Isetta, but I'm old enough to remember Isettas being used by Chicken D'lite to deliver food in the 1950s. I've seen front end crashes with Isettas. They aren't pretty.
Of course the Microlino is much more rigid than the old 50'ies Isetta, but clearly you do not want to crash with these vehicles. When I ride my motor bike I also drive more defensively.
I love small cars. Unfortunately, as a tall person, they don’t love me. LOL
up to 195 cm you'll be fine in the Microlino
How do you get out of the car after an accident .
Through the front door, failing this, through the sun roof or the rear hatch
Very respectable low end torque.
Isetta, is that you?
I suppose what is meant in the caption at 01:04 (and corresponding narration) is kWh and not kW, otherwise it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
The whole Wh unit (with various prefixes, kilo, mega, giga, tera) should really be left behind in favour of Joules, but for now we are stuck with it, and it's important to distinguish between kW and kWh.
So if driver has the slightest bump or accident, likely they are trapped and can not exit? Door swinging upward is a recipe for door being stuck.
Could be a problem in extreme cases, but microlino both has a big sunroof and a fairly big tailgate so unlikely that all will be blocked
@@morten_hannesbo thank u for responding... its a "cute" vehicle but not sure how realistic it is to count on exit via sunroof... depends how its constructed and which way the glass slides/swings, would not assume its easy. Climbing out back, over the top of the seat, also may not be easy, esp for older or larger/fat people. The main door may even cause issues from issues at the open button location... just a crap design choice, from practical standpoint, to have an upswinging only door as your car front. And headlight/mirror combo, to me, just guarantees you lose a headlight when a motorcycle or truck clips your mirror... i know i sound negative but practical issues were not high in design agenda.
@@NA-su3jk Quite. Better avoid accidents. Like when you drive a motor bike.
*IMAGINE:* Having one of these with an optional small water heater sending out puffs of vapour, and a recorded sound of ''Chuff, chuff, chuff'', like it's steam powered...
It would blow people minds :P (If anyone actually makes this optional extra, I want credit for the idea, lol).
😂
Haha, the smoke's been let out of this one :)
I'd love to have one. A drawback for some cities is that not many have access to a plug in.
The Microlino even charges from the normal household power socket, quite easy for most to get access to one.
@@morten_hannesbo No, that's absolutely a false statement. Literally a very false statement. Do you have any data to back that up? What info suggests that most people in cities have electrical sockets out in the street? Or that "most" people would have any own parking place at all, let alone one with a socket?
Remember, you're not supposed to use extension cords for charging cars.
@@pistonburner6448 Yes, I live in a rented flat and I can't charge my plug-in-hybrid. EV are for people can charge at home and/or at work. If you can't do that you're out of luck. Sorry to say. 4 hours at public charger - no way. You pay per the minute here.
@@Martin_Siegel I owned an EV with Range Extender when I had my own parking spot, with a socket and everything but the rules said I'm not allowed to use the socket and I had to apply for permission to install a charger.
So I wasn't allowed to use the socket for charging (an old, ordinary socket is not safe nor practical for charging an EV in the long term anyway). For a whole year I tried but did not get permission to install a charger, even though the situation was ideal as it had a dedicated electrical connection, with an easy place to set up the required surge protectors, electricity meters and a charger.
I had already sold my EV and had a PHEV when a few years later I finally got permission to install a charger, after making all the plans and getting the plans approved by electricians, showing that all the electricity use will be safe and accounted for, won't disrupt any other electrical systems in the area, it's all paid by me, and that anyone else in the area can also install one if they want. I only used that charger for a few months before selling my PHEV, the charger and the parking spot to my neighbour.
I switched to pure ICE, and it has lower overall emissions with my use, it costs society massively less (no need for trillions in subsidies to companies and customers, millions of chargers, grid work, etc.), society and I also now have saved so much money that I can invest in real CO2 reduction measures, the lighter weight car wears roads a lot less since it weighs about half what typical EVs weigh... (The weight issue won't apply to small appliances like the Microlino of course, but that wasn't an alternative to my ICE car as I need to drive long distances every once in a while, my massively CO2-reducing business has a production facility several hours away).
Well, put in some places to plug in. Don't demand that this should always have existed and give up... How many meters (or footses) is an urban parking spot from electricity? This is a solved problem. Some wires and proper outlets and you can have electricity anywhere you want. Sheesh...
nice car :) but how can I charge it, when I do not have my own garage with a parking space and a plug?
Then it is not for you😀
Will launch in India ?
Highly unlikely, sorry
At that price it would find no buyers in India. This is a small, really handmade, quadcycle for a very niche market, your hipster Coffee drinker at Starbucks trying to look cool climbing out of the egg for $20000. They plan to one day manufacture 11000 a year. Way less at the moment and if they keep the price, it will never reach that state. This thing came to light over 10 years ago. They needed that long to get it build. I would not hold my breath with real cars coming down in price every month. You get a decent car! (not a quadcycle) highway legal for less. Fully electric.
Looked at the website and it's pretty pricey!
I had a 1958 Isetta and loved it got alot of attention mostly good but brought out the assholes for sure.
Will this come to Australia?
Unlikely, unfortunately
@@morten_hannesbo thanks for the reply. It the perfect car that will tick alot of Australian needs.
Bring them on.
How much does it cost? It went 50 km/h, right?
Top speed is 90 km/h. The price: from 16000 EUR. As tested: 21000 EUR
@@morten_hannesbo Thank you!
Energy consumption is measured in kWh/km not like it is stated in the video as “kW/h”.