Inside minuscule EV with top speed of 56mph that costs just £21k – it's the perfect travel companion for summer
Micro, the maker of the adorable quadricycles, has unveiled a new Spiaggina version last year.
4
4
4
Spiaggina is the latest version of Microlino, a tiny battery-powered bubble car introduced in 2022.
The microcar sports a 17bhp e-motor and can reach a top speed of 56mph.
Spiaggina comes in two colours, reminiscent of Italian seaside towns - Portofino Blue and Sardinia Sage.
If you'd like to enjoy a sea breeze during your drive, the quadricycle can lose its rear and side windows while the canvas roof can be removed entirely.
The minuscule EV is equipped with a front-opening door and externally mounted headlights as well as a trunk.
Inside, it features a simplistic but elegant design with vegan leather seats in a two-tone colour.
The seat material is the same as the one often used in sailing yachts which means it's moisture-resistant too.
With a 10.5kWh battery, the Spiaggina can survive up to 110 miles without recharge.
Once out of juice, it only takes four hours at a home socket to regain its battery entirely.
Microlino will also offer Cool and Connect package which includes a climate control system, a smartphone holder and a Bluetooth speaker.
Iconic 90s Ferrari Jeremy Clarkson dubbed the 'greatest car in the world, ever' up for sale for eye-watering price
The price for the Cool and Connect package is yet to be revealed.
But The Spaggiana in its mid-range spec is currently available for £21,377.
It comes after the Swiss firm's micro motors hit the UK streets last year.
The manufacturer also plans to partner with major city authorities such as Transport for London to bring entire fleets of Microlinos to be hired, just like electric scooters and bicycles.
Swiss inventor Wim Ouboter started creating Micro Scooters 25 years ago and transformed the way people get around.
Since 1997, Ouboter's family-owned Micro Mobility Systems business has sold more than 50 million scooters in 30 varying models and generated over £600m.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geeky Gadgets
an hour ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Volkswagen's ID.3 GTX 'Fire & Ice': A 90s Icon Reborn
The Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice is a limited-edition electric vehicle that pays homage to the iconic Golf Mk2 Fire and Ice from the 1990s. Developed in collaboration with luxury sports fashion brand BOGNER, this model seamlessly blends retro-inspired design elements with innovative electric performance technology. With a global production run limited to just 1,990 units, the ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice is set to become a highly sought-after collector's item among automotive enthusiasts and fans of the original Golf Mk2 Fire and Ice. The exterior of the ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice features a striking ultra-violet metallic paint finish, reminiscent of its 1990s predecessor. This eye-catching color is complemented by a unique geometric F+I pattern adorning the C-pillar, adding a touch of modern flair to the vehicle's nostalgic design. The result is a visually stunning electric vehicle that effortlessly combines the best of past and present automotive styling. Inside, the ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice continues the retro-modern theme with quilted sports seats inspired by BOGNER's FIRE+ICE collections. These premium seats feature distinctive stitching patterns and embroidered logos, further emphasizing the vehicle's exclusive nature and attention to detail. The interior design creates a luxurious and sporty atmosphere, making every drive a truly immersive experience. Impressive Performance and Cutting-Edge Technology While the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice may draw inspiration from the past, its performance and technology are firmly rooted in the present. Powered by a potent 326 PS (240 kW) electric motor, this limited-edition vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in a mere 5.7 seconds, delivering an exhilarating driving experience. The ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice also features a top speed of 124 mph, allowing drivers to enjoy its impressive performance capabilities on the open road. The vehicle's 79 kWh lithium-ion battery provides a substantial WLTP range of 367 miles on a single charge, making it a practical choice for both daily commutes and longer journeys. Additionally, the ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice supports DC fast charging at rates of up to 185 kW, allowing the battery to be recharged from 10% to 80% capacity in just 26 minutes. This rapid charging capability ensures that drivers can quickly get back on the road without lengthy interruptions. To further enhance the driving experience, the ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice features a GTX-specific chassis that includes adaptive chassis control and uprated stabilizers. These advanced components work together to provide a sporty and responsive driving feel, allowing drivers to fully enjoy the vehicle's impressive performance potential. The combination of innovative electric technology and carefully tuned chassis elements makes the ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice a true standout in the electric vehicle market. Exclusive Availability and Pricing The Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice will be available for order in the United Kingdom starting Thursday, 7 August 2025. With an on-the-road recommended retail price of £48,360 (including VAT), this limited-edition electric vehicle offers a unique blend of retro-inspired design, innovative performance, and exclusive features. Given the vehicle's limited production run of just 1,990 units worldwide, interested buyers are encouraged to act quickly to secure their piece of automotive history. Detailed Specifications Exterior Paint: Ultra-violet metallic with geometric F+I pattern on the C-pillar Ultra-violet metallic with geometric F+I pattern on the C-pillar Wheels: 20-inch Locarno alloy wheels with diamond-turned surface 20-inch Locarno alloy wheels with diamond-turned surface Interior Features: Quilted sports seats inspired by BOGNER FIRE+ICE collections, colored stitching, and embroidered logos Quilted sports seats inspired by BOGNER FIRE+ICE collections, colored stitching, and embroidered logos Electric Motor: 326 PS (240 kW) with 545 Nm of torque 326 PS (240 kW) with 545 Nm of torque Performance Metrics: 0-62 mph acceleration in 5.7 seconds, top speed of 124 mph 0-62 mph acceleration in 5.7 seconds, top speed of 124 mph Battery Specifications: 79 kWh lithium-ion battery, providing a WLTP range of 367 miles 79 kWh lithium-ion battery, providing a WLTP range of 367 miles Charging Capabilities: DC fast charging up to 185 kW (10%-80% charge in 26 minutes) DC fast charging up to 185 kW (10%-80% charge in 26 minutes) Limited Production: Only 1,990 units available worldwide Only 1,990 units available worldwide Pricing: £48,360 (on-the-road recommended retail price, including VAT) Discover More from Volkswagen's Electric Lineup For automotive enthusiasts intrigued by the ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice, Volkswagen offers a diverse range of electric vehicles and performance models to suit various needs and preferences. From the spacious and family-friendly ID.4 SUV to the sleek and sporty ID.5 GTX, Volkswagen's growing electric lineup has something for everyone. Whether you're drawn to retro-inspired designs or innovative technology, Volkswagen continues to innovate and excite in the rapidly evolving world of electric mobility. As the automotive industry continues to shift towards sustainable transportation solutions, Volkswagen remains at the forefront of this transition. With models like the ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice, the company demonstrates its commitment to combining iconic design elements with advanced electric vehicle technology, creating unique and desirable offerings for discerning drivers. As more consumers embrace the benefits of electric mobility, Volkswagen is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for stylish, high-performance, and eco-friendly vehicles. Source VW Filed Under: Auto News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Switzerland scrambles after Trump makes it Europe's biggest loser
For more than 200 years, Switzerland's approach to foreign policy has been to stay neutral. Yet when it comes to Donald Trump, a man who demands loyalty, neutrality doesn't get you much. The peace-loving Alpine nation has found itself at the forefront of Trump's erratic trade war, with exports such as Swiss chocolate and watches now subject to US tariffs of 39pc. 'Basically, we are all shocked,' says Jan Atteslander from Economiesuisse, a business lobby organisation representing 100,000 businesses in the country. 'We are one of the most open economic partners of the US. We have no tariff and non-tariff barriers for US goods or services. We are number six for foreign direct [investment] in the US. 'In this context, to find early on Friday, at 3am, that you are among the four countries that have – by way out now – the highest import tariffs in the US across the board, it's really a shock.' The outcome could hardly be worse: Only Syria, Laos and Myanmar face steeper rates than Switzerland of up to 41pc. Even Taliban-run Afghanistan was handed a more favourable deal of 15pc. To add insult to injury, the announcement came on Switzerland's National Day. 'There are two days in the year – one is Christmas, and the other one is Aug 1 – where normal people are on holiday,' shrugs Atteslander. The tariff shock has left Bern scrambling. Karin Keller-Sutter, the Swiss president, and Guy Parmelin, the economy minister, are flying to the US on Tuesday for crisis talks. It comes after a disastrous last-ditch call between the Swiss leader and Trump late on Thursday. The unexpected tariff blow has unleashed anger and soul-searching in Switzerland, with the tabloid Blick declaring it the country's greatest defeat since a battle against France in 1515, which ushered in its policy of international neutrality. 'We're joining the Canadians in protest against the US,' says Nikolay Markov, an economist at Pictet Asset Management in Geneva. He argues that the Swiss shouldn't have been caught flat-footed. 'It shouldn't be surprising because Switzerland has a significant trade surplus with the US. That's one of the reasons why Switzerland is on the monitoring watch list of the US treasury,' he says. Switzerland sold £28.8bn more goods to the US last year than it bought, with £47.6bn-worth of items heading to America. Exports range from luxury watches to precision instruments such as pneumatic screwdrivers and micrometres to medicines and Nespresso pods. Its trade surplus with the world's largest economy grew by 56.1pc from 2023. Trump initially subjected Switzerland to import duties of 31pc on 'liberation day' on April 2. Most goods exports, apart from pharmaceuticals and gold, will be subject to the new tariff from Thursday unless Keller-Sutter can strike a better deal. The US president has demanded that Swiss drugmakers lower their prices, an issue that may well come up in negotiations. Swiss business leaders and politicians are, for now trying to keep cool heads, hoping that this will be another example of the phenomenon that traders refer to as 'Taco': Trump always chickens out. While the president likes to announce large headline rates, he tends to use them as a bludgeon to negotiate better deals rather than following through. The stakes are high. Markov says he initially expected tariffs to shave 0.2pc of the Swiss economy's growth. 'Now it's 1.8pc, so it implies no growth for Switzerland in the coming year. It really changes the economic outlook – potentially materially,' he says. Such a knock to growth would plunge Switzerland into a technical recession and leave many workers unemployed. Chocolatiers are among those bracing for the impact. 'It's quite a shock because with tariffs at that level, it will be hard to serve the US market,' says Roger Wehrli. He is the Bern-based chief executive of Chocosuisse and Biscosuisse, trade bodies representing chocolatiers and confectionery makers. 'Combined with the exchange rate changes, this leads to an increase of costs in certain US markets by around 55pc compared to the beginning of the year,' he says. He warns that Switzerland being singled out leaves it particularly vulnerable. 'The UK has only a tariff of 10pc, the European Union 15pc. So our companies will have a comparative disadvantage. This leads to the conclusion that if this tariff remains, a lot of companies will pull out of the US market,' Wehrli says. The 39pc rate is beyond even the worst-case scenarios companies had planned for, Wehrli says. He also fears the wider damage to the Swiss economy. 'When we look at this economy in general, we export around 15pc to the United States. I'm very much concerned. It will pose severe challenges to the labour market.' Atteslander at trade body Economiesuisse says: 'There are thousands of jobs at risk, but I can't really tell if it is really going to happen or not.' For now, companies like Swatch are temporarily able to rely on all of the stock they rushed into the US in the first half of the year. The watchmaker has enough sitting in US warehouses to last it for at least three to six months, according to its chief executive. Knife maker Victorinox, another Swiss brand, meanwhile, said it was looking to make its operations more efficient through automation and 'collaborative solutions with our distribution partners'. 'This is not the first big challenge these export companies have faced over the last 15 to 20 years,' says Atteslander. If 39pc tariffs do remain in place, companies could explore workarounds. One unlikely benefactor of Trump's trade offensive could be Slovenia, according to Markov, the economist in Geneva. 'Slovenia is a major trading partner and is part of the European Union and the eurozone, so they're subject to 15pc tariffs. Switzerland could, to some extent, bypass the 39pc tariffs by exporting to Slovenia for re-exports to the US.' Swiss pharmaceuticals have already invested billions into production facilities in the small central European nation. Other industries could follow. Ultimately, though, Swiss leaders will be hoping to avoid all that. The federal council – the country's governing cabinet – on Monday said Switzerland was prepared to make a 'more attractive offer' to Trump in an effort to negotiate lower tariffs.
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Swiss president rushes to US in last-ditch attempt to avoid Trump's 39% tariffs
Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter and business minister Guy Parmelin flew to Washington on Tuesday, the government said, in a last-ditch effort to avoid the 39 per cent tariffs announced by president Donald Trump on exports to the United States. The US tariffs, hiked from the initial 31 per cent rate announced in April, have sent Switzerland reeling after they were announced on Friday. Advertisement The higher duty is due to take effect on Thursday. During their visit, Keller-Sutter and Parmelin will "facilitate meetings with the US authorities at short notice and hold talks with a view to improving the tariff situation for Switzerland", the government said. It did not comment on which parts of the US government they would meet in Washington or whether a meeting was scheduled with Trump. A person familiar with the Trump administration's thinking, said they were confident that a deal could be worked out with Switzerland if it responded quickly with a better offer. Advertisement "There was some kind of bad interaction, but that can blow over, if the Swiss come with a meaningful offer," the source said, referring to a phone call between Trump and Keller-Sutter on Thursday evening. "It is a large trade deficit, especially in per capita terms," the source added. Trump referred to the conversation with Keller-Sutter in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, adding he was concerned about the US trade deficit with Switzerland. "Look, I did something with Switzerland the other day," he said referring to his phone call with Keller-Sutter. "The woman was nice, but she didn't want to listen, and they paid essentially no tariffs," he told the broadcaster. Advertisement "And I said, we have a $41 billion deficit with you, madam... and you want to pay 1 per cent tariffs. I said, you're not going to pay 1 per cent, we lose, because I view deficit as loss." The Swiss government held an emergency meeting on Monday to decide its response to the tariff hike, and said it was ready to make a "more attractive offer" to the United States. It was also ready to pursue negotiations beyond the August 7th deadline. Bern gave no details of what extra incentives could be offered to secure a better deal, but it did say it was not considering any countermeasures against the US. Advertisement Parmelin has previously said that Switzerland buying more US liquefied natural gas (LNG) was under consideration, while further investment by Switzerland in the United States could also be an option. The aim of Keller-Sutter and Parmelin's trip was to present "a more attractive offer to the United States in a bid to lower the level of reciprocal tariffs for Swiss exports, taking US concerns into account," the government said on Tuesday. Some Swiss business leaders, including Nick Hayek, chief executive of watchmaker Swatch Group, had called on Keller-Sutter to visit Washington to do a deal with Trump directly. A trade barrier of 39 per cent would be a major blow for the export-orientated Swiss economy by reducing access to its biggest overseas market for its watches, machinery and chocolate, economists have warned. Advertisement Hans Gersbach, an economist at KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH, a University in Zurich, said the Swiss delegation would have to make a substantial offer to win a reprieve from the 39 per cent tariff, with the visit representing a last-ditch effort to negotiate down the import duty. "Something marginal won't be enough – it has to be a significant number, which Trump can present to his supporters as a victory for his negotiations," said Gersbach. "It's crucial Keller-Sutter and Parmelin meet Trump and speak with him directly. He is the decision-maker," added Gersbach, who thought there was reasonable chance of success. The Swiss government knew how serious the situation is, and was putting all its efforts into getting a deal, he said. "A 39 per cent tariff on Switzerland, especially with the EU agreeing a rate of 15 per cent, would be an immediate shock to the Swiss economy," said Gersbach.
