Electric Bubble Car Updates a Cult Classic

It was quirky in 1953, and nearly seven decades later, it’s still a unique specimen. And now it’s going electric.

The Iso Isetta was a diminutive, no-frills mass-production vehicle with dimensions of 7.5 x 4.5 feet and fuel economy up to 58 mpg. Introduced at the height of the Cold War, the Isetta became the top-selling single-cylinder car in the world, and it quickly earned the nickname “bubble car” due to its odd shape.

Even today, the Italian “microcar” feels more Hot Wheels than roadster. It’s not quite as squat as the Peel P50, the smallest production car ever made, but it still comes in under the Smart fortwo, a shrimp in its own right.

And just recently, Switzerland's Micro Mobility revealed a modern electric version of the Isetta, the Microlino 2.0. The prototype retains its ancestor’s curvy appearance but adds pressed steel and aluminum components, a wider rear axle for independent suspension, and a new permanent-magnet motor.

With its updated trappings, the Microlino 2.0 supposedly gets 124 miles per charge, with a top speed of 56 mph, and you can reserve one now for a modest $13,500.

So it’s clearly not for everyone – city driving is ideal, and it’s obviously not a good fit for highways. But wealthy eco warriors – or folks with short, urban commutes – could do a lot worse.