Driven: Microlino 2.0 – the BMW Isetta-Inspired EV Drops Its Bubble Car Pizzazz on Us

Back in 1954, BMW was said to be on the verge of extinction, so they took a gamble on a vehicle design that was cooked up in the minds of Iso Rivolta, an Italian refrigerator manufacturer. That gamble became the Isetta, the "bubble car" that's said to have saved the Bavarian powerhouse from bankruptcy. So, from 1955 (the first year of production) to 1962, over 161K units were manufactured.

But, there was just something about the Isetta that just drew humans to it like moths to a flame. It might have been the "bubble car" looks or the fact that it had no side doors, but, I frankly feel it was all about the way the front of the car would swing open, revealing space for two people, a steering column and wheel and pedals. Some may say that the 12 hp, four-stroke, single-cylinder engine was the real hot-ticket item here, but I doubt it.

Nonetheless, after the Isetta helped BMW rise above it all, people kind of forgot about it. All until a couple of years ago when Swiss-born Micro, the same brand that makes your kid's kick scooters, hit the market with what appeared to be a revamped and very modern Isetta; it's not! It's something else entirely. "Isetta-inspired," yes, but as we soon found out, a very real and feasible solution to getting around town with nothing but good old electric energy. Kick back, strap in, and enjoy our exploration into one of the most attention-grabbing vehicles I've driven in my life.

Design Evaluation

Kicking things off for the Microlino, let's begin with that downright questionable body, the one and the same that was responsible for stare after stare, picture after picture, and question after question. No joke; we literally had to stop answering people's questions about the car in order to shoot the video below! They just stood by and watched. Some asked if they could get in; we allowed it.

What we're looking at is a steel chassis with aluminum bodywork with nice wrapping windows all around. All that's mixed in with a bit of plastic and rubber to ensure a light yet waterproof enclosure, all 500 kg (1,102 lbs) of it; we'll talk more about that later. But it's that teardrop shape that Microlino boasts that really grabs everyone's attention, and because of it, the Microlino is also big and bulbous at the front and tapered off and slim at the rear, a design that helps when you're checking your blind spots or using the side mirrors. It's also essential since this EV has no rearview mirror.

One aspect of the chassis that's important to note is the positioning of the wheels in regard to the car centerline. What I mean to say is that the two front wheels are further apart from one another than the ones at the rear, giving us a really neat machine to fishtail around the lot on a wet day. It's that teardrop body and chassis that's to thank for this.

Yet, once we decide to climb inside the Microlino, it shows the world even more of its Isseta-inspired goodness. It's at this stage where you'll press a button on the car's right side, and after you do, the entire front construction, windshield included, swings open on a hinge and invites you inside. Go ahead, take a moment, and grasp what all that means. That's not the end of the story either; there are actual steps needed to safely enter the car without banging your head on the roof or welds. We made a note of this "procedure" in the video below.

Once you finally make it inside, you'll be sharing your seat with a passenger—a bench is in place—and if you need to scoot forward to reach the pedals, your Shaquille O'Neil-sized friend or family member will be forced to do the same, getting rather close to an aluminum grab bar integrated into the dashboard. Oh, and do note that there's no AC in this thing, just ventilation and heating.

At the driver's feet, just two pedals, one for acceleration and the other for stopping, ensure a simple and easy-to-use machine and the smallest go-kart-like aluminum steering wheel in your hands. To the very left, a gear selector is found mounted into the door, and as if in BMW fashion, it's a wheeled selector. Beyond that, turn signals, horns, and lights are integrated into control sticks, while the one on the right is for the windshield wiper. A diagnostics display and control console mounted into the aluminum bar I mentioned complete the cockpit. The passenger gets a leather grab strap to play with and a removable speaker.

Allow me to point out that everything in the cockpit is manual. This includes the side windows, mirrors, and sunroof, too. But at least the front door has a soft-close system built into it. Oh, and if you ever end up in some dealership with the chance to climb inside, play a game with your fellow friends and family: close them inside and have them find the "open" button that unlocks the front door for exiting. I'll give you a hint, "aluminum." Oh, and that is a factory-installed cell phone holder you see, branded and everything.

What's behind the front seat? Nothing; just good old trunk space, and surprisingly, quite a whole lot. We were able to carry pounds and case after case of filing gear, a change of clothes, gym bag, backpacks, and jackets. Quite a bit for a car whose trunk hatch is as narrow as a case of beers, well, almost, but it really opens up inside.

Again, I told you that this isn't a car, and it's not: the Microlino technically classifies an electric quadricycle, so over in Europe, this falls under the L6e or L7e category, so you can drive this with a moped or learner's license. This is dependent on the features, trim model, and the performance package you ultimately choose. As for how all this comes together behind the wheel, a lot of the fun I experienced has to do with the EVs 16.7 hp motor, 65 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 56 mph (90 kph). The maximum range for the Microlino is set at 142 miles, which is made possible by a battery array of up to 15 kWh and consisting of three packs.

Drivetime

As for how all this translates to a vehicle that's worthy of day-to-day use in a city, well, think about the numbers we threw at you right above. With 142 miles (228 km) of range in a city setting, which, might I add, the Microlino does one hell of a job at almost holding true to that manufacturer-declared range. You can drive around nearly all day and still have some juice left over.

The performance package we had boasts two batteries, so 10 kWh of power, and driving around all day, parking, turning the car off, starting up again, flashing lights, honking, stepping on the gas, and even hitting a few hills here and there, we used up only around 60% of what was in the so-called tank and covering over 40 miles (64 km). Again, we did all this with a trunk full of stuff and just two packs, so pretty dang good if you ask for my mobility-inclined opinion.

Regarding power and speed, you won't get that whole EV kick that everyone's talking about, but the Microlino does have its own dumbed-down version of it. I'm not saying the Microlino doesn't have the possibility to offer a fun launch; it does, but you'll need the Competizione performance package, which comes equipped with a Sport mode. Turn it on to see what it can do.

Then there's handling, which, believe it or not, feels pretty good. I honestly felt as though it might tip if you hit a corner too hard, and it just might, under the right conditions, but it never did, wink-wink. The way the wheelbase is set up has a big impact on this ride's stability, leaning toward a trike-like vehicle.

However, one area where this EV is lacking from a performance perspective is suspension. I'll be honest: It's not the softest ride around, so you can say goodbye to sitting in the seat for extended periods of time. Any bumps you encounter, you will feel; some hits even sounded like the Microlino was about to fall apart; it didn't.

The suspension also leads me to my next point, the back pain the next day, but from what I understood, I used this vehicle all wrong: like any other urban-destined, nimble, and slightly last-mile EV, the Microlino is more of a cafe racer version of a car, designed to be occupied for short periods at a time. This means a vehicle that's to be used as nothing more than a means of transport to and from destinations, preferably within one hour's distance of driving. As for my own back pains, they had a whole lot to do with the fact that I spent hours in the proverbial saddle while filming, all in one day.

But what about interacting with other cars on the road? Here, too, there's plenty to talk about. Starting from a driver's perspective, you'll need to get used to the lack of a rearview mirror, so you'll be checking those side mirrors quite often, and when you need to make a lane change, thus checking your blind spot, the large wrap-around windows and teardrop shape of the Mircolino do a wonderful job at offering adequate and safe visibility. After adapting to the circumstances, you'll forget you ever needed a rearview mirror.

As for how visible you are to others while in this EV, no problems there either, unless you merge into a lane next to some massive truck or 4x4 that already towers over everything else - maybe that's a reason why the Microlino isn't yet available in the US. It's not; road laws and regulations are the issue, for now - but its attention-grabbing design does one hell of a trick in telling other drivers you're there and making sure they see you throughout the whole drive, mainly because they're just checking out the thing.

What you can do, which isn't safe nor recommended but sure to get a smile, is pop open the front hatch while sitting at a red light, hop out, do a dance, jump back in, and get someone's number. Clearly, you'll end up on TikTok because of it, so why not make a Microlino adventure channel in your city?

With all that in mind, we need to ask ourselves the question of who this vehicle is for. Well, considering the fact that European Expressways won't even allow a Microlino passage, it's only for city-dwellers looking for quick trips around town, relaxing cruises on Sunday, and anyone who isn't necessarily in a hurry to get anywhere. But then again, 56 mph around town is plenty if you ask me.

So, how much can you expect to pay for one of these eggs with wheels? Well, it depends on the trim and performance packages Micro and in store for future Microlino owners. That said, the Lite, or base model, is advertised as starting at €19,000, so around $21K (at current exchange rates). The one we drove, the Competizione, is priced starting at €23K, so around $25K.

You're not the first to say "Pass." Quite a few of our on-lookers walked away once we blurted out those digits, but at least some European citizens can have government rebates and incentives to help cover the costs of a new Microlino.

Drive safe out there, and remember, the best way to see what a Microlino can do is to find a dealer in your area and run your hands along those smoothened and matte bodywork. Feel it as you step on the gas, take turns, see how much juice you use driving around, and weigh your options. Oh, and remember, if you like attention, this one's for you. The "bubble car" is back!

Pros

• Decent and Fun Performance
• Attention-grabber
• Small and nimble
• Lovable

Cons

• Manual everything
• Confined to cities
• Two-seater
• No AC
• Price!