Skip advert
Advertisement

Microlino Spider Concept is a roofless BMW Isetta bubble car

Swiss firm reveals tiny open-top concept at Brussels show, and says it will make production

Dubbed the “anti-pick-up truck” by Micro, this new Spider Concept is a fresh take on the all-electric Microlino, featuring a door-less, open-top design and, apparently, “maritime flair”. 

The Spider might just be a concept right now, but a spokesperson for the Swiss company told Auto Express at the car’s unveiling at the Brussels Motor Show that “this is something we plan to do”.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Microlino is classified under Europe’s L6e light quadricycle regulations, placing it in the same segment as the Citroen Ami, so the Spider Concept – which uses the same drivetrain and underpinnings as the Microlino – could potentially be brought to the UK. 

Micro says the Spider Concept’s cut-out side panels make access to the cabin easy, similar to golf carts. The distinctive front-opening ‘door’ found on the Microlino – and indeed the iconic BMW Isetta which inspired it – is not found on the Spider Concept. There’s also no roof, but Micro says a canvas top is available as an option to provide shade. There are also new bars behind the occupants for rollover protection. 

Clearly inspired by a yacht theme, there are wood accents surrounding the side openings, while the floor, the steering wheel and even the handbrake lever are wooden. The area behind the seats gets a wooden deck, and presumably is large enough to fit a set of golf clubs, given Micro’s suggestion that the Spider Concept is a safer alternative to a golf cart. 

Technical details are yet to be confirmed for the Spider Concept, although it’s certain to receive the same 5.5kWh, 10.5kWh and 15kWh battery options as the standard version, with up to 112 miles of range.

Micro already has three variations of its quirky EV – the Microlino, the Microlino Lite and the Microlino Spaggina. As with the rest of the line-up, the production version of the Spider is likely to be built in Turin, Italy.

Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Alastair Crooks, Staff writer Auto Express
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Radical new Citroen C4 Picasso to make MPVs cool again
Citroen C4 Picasso - exclusive image

Radical new Citroen C4 Picasso to make MPVs cool again

Citroen is going back to what it does best: new ELO-inspired MPV could spawn family of family-friendly models
News
28 Sep 2026
New BMW iX3 40 M Sport 2026 review: entry-level SUV isn't a compromise
New BMW iX3 40 M Sport - front tracking

New BMW iX3 40 M Sport 2026 review: entry-level SUV isn't a compromise

Practical, efficient and much cheaper than the xDrive50, we think the base-level BMW iX3 40 is the pick-of-the-range.
Road tests
24 Sep 2026
Rarest cars in the UK - one-off unicorns you’ll never see on the road… probably
Rarest cars in the UK

Rarest cars in the UK - one-off unicorns you’ll never see on the road… probably

With only one example of each of these cars registered for road use in the UK, it doesn’t get any rarer than this
Best cars & vans
26 Sep 2026

Find a car with the experts