Micro has presented the Microline Lite at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show. It is mainly aimed at younger people, and anyone who does not have a license.
Last October 2023, it was announced that the Microlino 2.0 was already available in the Spanish market. It is an electric microcar, with a contemporary design and oriented towards a more urban lifestyle, which aims to become the flagship of sustainable micromobility in the Spanish market.
The Microlino has always seemed like a children's toy car but, in this case, with a more elegant design. Well, the truth is that there is now a new version available in which children can get in and drive. Yes, drive. We tell you here.
Microline Lite, the Microlino for the little ones
The Microline Lite has practically the same design as the electric vehicle that has been sold in Europe for a couple of years, but this version has been adapted to comply with regulations that allow 14-year-olds to get behind the wheel.
The Lite is presented this week at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show. While the standard version has a single 17 HP electric motor, which allows it to develop a power of 90 km/h, the version for children is limited to 28 km/h, as well as generates 12 HP.
This is equivalent to 40 km/h and is the maximum speed allowed by the same L6e quadricycle regulations that helped shape the Citroën Ami and its Opel Rocks and Fiat Topolino derivatives. Meeting the L6e requirements means teenagers can get behind the wheel, although the minimum age varies from country to country.
In France and Italy it is 14 years old In Sweden, Germany, Austria and Spain it is 15 years old In most other countries you have to be 16 years old. But children are not the only target audience. In fact, these types of cars can be driven by anyone who does not have a driving license. A car that can be driven without a license
L6e vehicles can be driven in Europe by anyone without a driving license, as long as they have a moped licence. As far as its design is concerned, as we already mentioned, there is not much that differs from the version that is currently on the market.
The only thing we can highlight, which can be seen with the naked eye, is the color range. And the Lite is only available in Venice Blue and Berlin Anthracite, and does not have the duotone paint option like its older brother, but it does have some orange exterior details to give it an “energetic” look.
Under the bright colors and a design inspired by the BMW Isetta, the first thing you find is the same steel and aluminum body, whose front panel tilts laterally to allow access to the two seats, one of the most curious and notable features. of the model.
Engines and price of the Microline Lite
Buyers will be able to choose between 5.5 and 11 kWh batteries: the small one offers a range of 100 km and takes two hours to charge to 80%, while the largest offers 180 km and takes four hours to charge. The original Microlino also offers buyers the option of a 15 kWh battery with a range of 228 km, but this is not available on the Lite.
Micro, the firm that became known selling scooters under the names 'Micro and Razor' in the late 90s, has not released the price of the Lite, but claims that it will be available for $169 per month (155 euros ) in a four-year contract, in case the buyer makes a 25% deposit.
If we multiply 155 euros by 12 months and 4 years the result is 7,440 euros. And, if we add 25% of the initial deposit, the price is still lower compared to the 157 dollars per month (145 euros) that the Microlino asks for, whose sale price is around 18,750 dollars (17,300 euros).
But obviously the Lite is designed to appeal to those drivers who cannot legally drive the Microlino. As we say, the new Microline Lite is presented this week at the Geneva Motor Show and, if all goes according to plan, it will go on sale in Europe this spring.