Microlino - the New EV city Bubble Car that gets more attention than a Ferrari

140,349
0
Published 2024-06-09
Microlino - the New EV city Bubble Car that gets more attention than a Ferrari. In this episode Jonny Smith finally drives a finished Microlino electric urban car built by a stunt scooter company that has one door, three battery packs (and ranges), four wheels and should have been built by BMW.

Thanks for stopping by The Late Brake Show.

This is the £17k, 140-mile range irresistably cute Microlino from Switzerland. It goes on sale this month in the UK and whilst it may be retro in aesthetics, it's exceedingly practically packaged. The boot is bigger than a Mini and Fiat 500, and it's not even classed as a car!

This episode is powered by DriverReviews (www.driverreviews.com), Europe's largest verified tyre reviews platform. DriverReviews can help save motorists time and effort in the process of researching and selecting new tyres for their vehicles; by providing expert content, help, advice, and thousands of consumer reviews to support finding the right tyres for their vehicle.

Why not join our Patreon gang for early access to episodes and a regular blog from Jonny? patreon.com/TheLateBrakeShow

Smith & Sniff is the UK's #1 automotive podcast, where Jonny and ex Top Gear and Grand Tour script editor Richard Porter chat absolute rubbish for an hour, periodically mentioning car related topics. Listen now:
Website: smithandsniff.com/index.html
Apple music: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/smith-and-sniff/id15…
Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/1vXayLsQaEsejoCtVdRpzv?si=1Z…
Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Smith-and-Sniff/dp/B08K59D5SG?ref=d…
Youtube:    / @smithandsniff  


***********
Merch shop: thelatebrakeshow.com/shop
******
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/TheLateBrakeShow
******
Website: www.thelatebrakeshow.com/
******
SUBSCRIBE for a broad-church of automotive appreciation spanning EV, classic, modified and future tech.
********
Filmed and edited by: Phil Vaughan Pritchard www.philvfilms.com/
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant www.matttarantdesign.com/

****************
Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: www.carpervert.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jonnycarpervert
Twitter: www.twitter.com/carpervert
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@thelatebrakeshow

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:57 Smart launch of 1998
2:13 DIMENSIONS
2:45 Renault Twizy Messerschmitt
3:30 Battery sizes and RANGE
4:00 Performance
4:25 DRIVING
6:28 Sold car to Michael Barrymore
10:25 Citroen Ami rival?
11:00 Front design
13:45 Rear design
14:48 HUGE boot
#bestcitycar #newelectriccar #microlino #bubblecar #thelatebrakeshow #4k

All Comments (21)
  • @Hix066
    Absolutely love this! I've spent years designing cars, mostly outrageously expensive two (and three 😉) seat supercars. Latterly I was moved onto large character-less, heavy, un-needed SUVs. THIS! Is the future of urban transport, or it damn well should be. I'd happily have one, if it weren't for the fact that I have to do a 250 mile commute to get to work these days. I really hope this is adopted and takes off. It has genuine charm and it sounds very very practical. More launches like this please OEMs!
  • @tomlanigan4308
    As a motoring journalist / car enthusiast, it must be so refreshing to have a genuinely interesting and different vehicle to review as the market becomes saturated with two-tonne "me-too" electronic app devices on wheels.
  • @MrEV
    A damn sight more exciting than most car launches these days. Love it. I hope it finds a market.
  • @Chris-ww7fy
    That price is craaaaazy! This must be aimed at car collectors. Most of us normies would much rather have a lightly used anything. Way too many compromises for £22k
  • @althejazzman
    Parks in front of a literal boat and compares all modern SUV's to it. Brilliant!
  • @cmmb8521
    I had the privilege of watching Mr Jonny Smith at work filming the Microlino. He was professional enough to answer my questions when I interrupted him frequently. An absolute gent. (+ the crew)Thank you Mr Jonny, and continue with the great videos!
  • Imagine an old S&S type video with you and Richard eating lunch in one of these then driving round leafy london.
  • @PKWeaver74
    I can't afford this, but 6 months ago bought a 2003 smart city coupe cabriolet (for two). It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it and even when I see it parked outside my house, I suspect this would do exactly the same. Love it.
  • Their marketing says, “This is not a car. Second car redefined”. Excellent ad.
  • @martynrollinson
    This is where Ev's genuinely work and fit in the market... But this should be at least 50% cheaper.
  • @guyredshaw1422
    Love it! Whilst it’s aimed at the city, I reckon it’s easily as good for us in the countryside where villages and local market towns are only 2-12 miles apart and it’ll really suit the narrow lanes, which haven’t grown with the width of modern cars and tractors. Thanx for the great (Patreon-special) review👍👏🙏⭐️💥
  • @martinlaver007
    Whoa whoa whoa - Q for OTOSOT: please elaborate on selling your bubble car to Michael Barrymore…!
  • @secretwpn
    Showing this to my 6 yo daughter - the only thing she could say was "awwww" - but that's before she's heard the price 😅
  • @TheStobb50
    One of the reasons the original bubble cars disappeared from the uk was safety. I remember my dad who was a police man telling me about a crash where a bubble car was hit on its side when it was going round a roundabout, because it had no corners like a football it just kept on rolling and ended up in a shop not using the door. Thank you for taking the time to make this video the location was as good as the car a great atmosphere again thank you
  • @black8art
    Had this car a top speed on 62mph/100kmh via some sort of "overdrive", so it could be used on brief dual carriageway commutes, and was topped out at £17k instead of starting there, it would sell famously well! Maybe the UK Gov needs to INVITE Microlino to set up a UK assembly plant in order to make the vehicles MORE ACCESSIBLE and help develop our flegling EV industry? (and produce RHD versions for international markets like Japan, Sth Africa and the Antipodes?)
  • Air bags, crash test results, moose test. Great car. More safety info please
  • @downwarddonk
    Leafy leafy London! I see you’re in the Greenwich side of things. I was there in 60s. It was a different time, Jonny. You could commandeer the Cutty Sark by topping up the caretaker’s pipe with a spot of the old hasish and sail to visit dear dear friends on the Kent Riviera. Sweet, sweet friends. Their springer spaniel would pick me up from Whitstable harbour in his motorcycle and sidecar. The sidecar had an ale pump connected to a freshly tapped cask of Old Friggadier. Ah, the sixtees.
  • @marktodd7397
    The car made me smile , the price made me laugh out loud. Priced towards people with more money than sense. Shame because I think this is what the car market needs.
  • @spankysmp
    What a lovely car. There's no need for massive SUVs in the city. Just imagine the commutes if everyone had small cars. You'e right, small cars are not 'small' really. The bloke that does our cars bought an IQ which is pretty big inside and well specced. Shame this is £22K. Prices need to come down for quicker adoption.