PREVIEW

‘Bubble cars’ could soon be a regular sight on British roads again for the first time since the 1960s.
The three-wheel BMW Isetta was once a common curiosity in the UK, as a distinctive, three-wheel version of the tiny car was manufactured under licence from the late 1950s until 1962.
Adapted from the original Italian design to have one rear wheel to take advantage of the three-wheel vehicle laws in the United Kingdom, the tiny cars became an unlikely style icon.
Now, thanks to Swiss firm Microlino, a car based on the original four-wheel European design will return to British roads later this year.
The firm is in talks with distributors with the aim of getting them to drivers by the end of the year. They will then look to expand by targeting individuals and businesses after a second vehicle for short trips or deliveries.
Enthusiasts for the old Isetta are already excited about the Microlino’s potential arrival in the U.K.
Original Isetta owner Dave Watson said he “can’t wait” to get to try the new version - with owners hotly anticipating its arrival.
He says the original was “cheap transport and seen as a one up from a motorcycle” as it kept the driver and a partner “dry and warm”.
Dave adds that as the original Isetta was “ahead of its time” the new electric Microlino “ticks many boxes for short city and town trips” - comparing it to other much-loved updates on classic small cars like the Mini and the Fiat 500.
The Microlino was first unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show and entered production in Europe six years later. The company has since launched across continental Europe and built its 1000th example of the bubble car in June 2023.
However, the car is yet to launch in the UK after several delays as logistics issues have complicated the search for a distributor.
The new Microlino bubble car has a heavy-quadricycle (L7e) classification, offering a 17bhp motor and has a 56mph top speed.
Different models of the Microlino come with battery packs of 5.5kWh, 10.5kWh or 15.0kWh, corresponding to claimed ranges of 58 miles, 110 miles and 142 miles.
It mimics the Isetta’s front-mounted door, but unlike the original, it has a reverse gear - making parking in the tiny car even easier than the original.
The company will target private buyers and small businesses, pitching the Microlino as a second car for commuting and running errands.
Asked why he’d recommend driving his Isetta or a new Microlino, Dave concludes: “Easy to drive and park, fun, quirky – if you want to arrive and be noticed DON’T buy a Porsche or Ferrari – arrive in an Isetta!”
In Europe, the Microlino starts at €17,990 (£15,400) and rises to €19,990 (£17,100) for a 10.5kWh model, or €21,990 (£18,800) with the 15.0kWh battery.