The Fifties-style electric microcar is ready – Corriere.it

Production of the Microlino 2.0 will start in September: the electric microcar approved as a «heavy quadricycle», which can be driven for 16 years with a B1 license. It will be the happy ending of a story that began in 2016, when the Swiss Micro Mobility System, specialized in scooters, announced the project. News that caused a sensation for the bodywork of the vehicle, modeled on the legendary Isetta, a very original micro car produced at the beginning, from 1953 to ’56, by Iso di Bresso (Milan) and later, from ’55 to ’62, by BMW, on license.

The Isetta of the BMW and Cary Grant period, in 1955
The Isetta of the BMW and Cary Grant period, in 1955

Two years later, the German Artega comes into play, but a dispute with Mms immediately arises, with accusations of cloning. At the end of 2019 the brawl ends: the two contenders are free to both build their prototype. Mms confirms the Microlino 2.0, Artega announces its Karo-Isetta. At that point the Swiss turned to the Piedmontese (from La Loggia, province of Turin) Cecomp, founded in 1978 by Giovanni Forneris as “body shop”, in the Turin sense of the word (the creation of the style model and the hand-made bodywork) , and today an internationally appreciated reality for the production of prototypes and small series (among the products, the Bluecar, electric car used by the French sharing service Autolib).

The Microlino 2.0
The Microlino 2.0

2020 is spent on perfecting the project. The Microlino 2.0 is more of a car than the original idea. The dimensions increase a little, the entire frame is redesigned, the rear track is widened to achieve greater stability. But access is always from the front door: like the unforgettable Isetta. The growth in size has made it possible to revise the interiors: the living room is still essential, but more spacious. Unpublished colors, seat covers and rims.

The Microlino 2.0
The Microlino 2.0

To push the Microlino 2.0 will be an electric motor, more powerful and more efficient (autonomy reaches 200 km) than the initial project. The general improvement, however, did not increase the base price, which remains fixed at 12 thousand euros. Production scheduled for 2022 is about 3,000 units at the beginning, but MMS aims to double as early as the following year. The factory chosen for assembly is that of La Loggia (south of Turin), with the frame that will come from Moncalieri. Already several reservations.

The Microlino 2.0
The Microlino 2.0

February 17, 2021 (change February 17, 2021 | 14:39)

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