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The Microlino Spiaggina is a £20k bubble car that wants to be a Fiat 600 Jolly

Makers of the modern-day BMW Isetta unveil a beach-spec cabrio

Published: 15 Oct 2024

How do you make the dinky little Microlino even less practical? Why, you remove the roof, side windows and rear window of course.

Yep, this is the Microlino Spiaggina and isn’t it cute. Its makers refer to it as a “retro electric cabrio for Europe’s summer hotspots”. And there we were thinking it’d make a perfect Milton Keynes commuter vehicle. Think of all the fun you’d have on those roundabouts.

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Anyway, the Spiaggina has been inspired by cars like the Fiat 600 Jolly and the Citroen Mehari. It’s essentially designed to be a beach tender with a canvas roof that rolls back and a windowless design to give you full access to that sea breeze.

“The Microlino Spiaggina is an idea we’ve had in mind for years, and it’s finally become a reality,” said company co-founder Merlin Ouboter. “It will be the most stylish vehicle for Europe’s summer destinations like Portofino, St. Tropez, or Ibiza.”

The Spiaggina will initially be available as a ‘First Edition’ in two separate colour combinations. For just over £20,000, you’ll be able to spec either Portofino Blue or Sardinia Sage exterior paints. The former will be paired with white accents while the latter will get black. The blue car will get a similar blue/white interior while the green will be trimmed in grey/brown, and there’ll be fancy vegan leather that was originally developed for use on yachts.

The powertrain is exactly the same as you’ll find in the standard Microlino, so you’ll get a 10.5kWh battery and a 17bhp motor. Top speed is 56mph and there’s a max range of 110 miles on a single charge. If you’re driving that far to the beach in a Spiaggina, TG salutes you.

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Though, perhaps the little Microlino isn’t that impractical after all, because it gets 230 litres of boot space. For reference, that’s almost 60 litres more than a Honda e.

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