Funky 1960s bubble car bursts back on scene
AS a symbol of funky, original 1960s cool, the bubble car was up there with the kaftan, flares and the beehive haircut.
now it’s bursting back on the scene after two Swiss brothers have made a new version of the two-seater, 56 years after BMW halted production of its famed Isetta.
Oliver and Merlin Ouboter have more than 7,200 orders for the Microlino, a modern version of the Isetta which swaps the old singlecylinder petrol engine for a 20 horsepower electric motor but keeps the front-opening door.
The brothers, whose father Wim made millions from kick scooters, plan to launch the car in December.
‘The average modern car is way too big for normal use,’ said Oliver, the project’s 24year-old operations chief.
He cited statistics showing the average car journey involves 1.2 passengers driving less than 22 miles. They built two prototypes in China and displayed one at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, where it was received warmly.
‘We started a reservations list with 500 spots on it, and in three or four days it was filled up,’ said Merlin, 22, the chief marketing officer. The Microlino will be built by Italian manufacturer Tazzari, which has a 50 per cent stake in the project and eventually plans to produce 5,000 per year.
With the car retailing for 12,000 euros (£10,700), pre- existing components keep costs down. The door handles come from the Fiat 500. The standard vehicle has a range of 75 miles and a top speed of 56mph. It charges in four hours from a normal plug. Oliver added: ‘We have stripped a lot out. In modern cars you have so many buttons I don’t know what many of them are for.’
‘We hope this can contribute to more environmentally friendly mobility,’ said Merlin.