Inside minuscule EV with top speed of 56mph that costs just £21k – it's the perfect travel companion for summer

A FOUR-WHEELED electric bubble car manufactured by a Swiss company makes the perfect companion for a seaside trip.
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.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Herald Scotland

2 hours ago

• The Herald Scotland

Mysterious Glasgow company in £350m tax fraud probe

Over 70 people are under investigation, including entrepreneurs, go-betweens, accountants, and the husband and wife team which owns an amateur football side. The Italian government offers tax breaks for companies which invest in ZES (zone economiche speciale, special economic zones) in the poorer south of the country - Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Molise, Sardinia and Abruzzo - colloquially referred to as the 'Southern Bonus'. Read More: The allegation is that a variety of companies claimed fictitious investments in the region by pretending to buy software from Global Services 2, a shell company created for the purpose of the scheme, in order to obtain tax credits. On paper the companies were making technological investments, allowing them to claim a tax credit of 50%. According to the seizure orders issued, the software being bought from Global Services 2 offered the ability to "manage, control, automate and optimise the sales and purchase process" as well as other features such as e-commerce, payment and marketing systems, API Google connection, OTP signature, email and WhatsApp marketing, auto-responses, chatbot, appointment management, and reminders with alerts. The sole director of the company is Lorenzo Aquila, a 24-year-old from Civitavecchia near Rome. It is registered at 20-23 Woodside Place in Glasgow, and in its last set of accounts, made up for a dormant company, had assets of £100. When The Herald visited the address, an office complex, we were told Global Services 2 has only a virtual office and to attempt to contact them online. On its website, Global Services 2 describes itself as "primarily an investment holding company" and Mr Aquila as an "expert in marketing and finance". Global Services 2 registration at Companies House (Image: Newsquest) The Herald called the contact number listed on the website, which was not connected, and did not receive a response to an email request. It's alleged a company registered in London, InnovaItalia, was used as an intermediary. That company was incorporated on May 29, 2024, and its confirmation statement is overdue. Some of the companies alleged to have faked software investments are linked to Michele Cicala, who is currently involved in another, separate, trial where he is accused of tax evasion and selling agricultural fuel on the black market. Mr Cicala admits to being involved but claims his involvement was limited to falsifying paperwork. A sentence is expected in July, the prosecution has requested eight years in prison. Mr Cicala has previous convictions for criminal association, illegal possession of weapons, arson, receiving stolen goods, attempted extortion and assault. He is also on trial in Taranto accused of organised criminal activity but a more serious charge of mafia association has been dropped. He told Taranto Today in December last year: "I am a person who has made many mistakes, it's true, but I am not a mafioso. "I have admitted my charges relating to the hydrocarbon scam. I have taken my responsibilities and I will pay for my mistakes, but enough talk about bosses and clans. The mafia disgusts me." Prosecutors are also investigating a link between a second company registered in Scotland and an amateur football team, UG Manduria. According to the seizure orders signed by deputy prosecutor Enrico Bruschi, during the 2024-25 season transfers were made to an address registered to Assistenza Sviluppo e Formazione Ltd, a now dissolved company registered at 13 Fitzroy Place, Glasgow. Club president Fabio Di Maggio and spouse Elsa Occhilupo are alleged to have bought non-existent technology from that firm in return for tax credits. Manduria were relegated from the Puglia division of the Eccellenza, the fifth tier of Italian football, last season having been deducted nine points for failing to pay their players. The club's website contains no images of the 2024-25 season, no match reports and no results but does include a sponsorship and investment page promising sponsorship will be "100% tax deductible", in addition to providing tax credits. Unione Giovanile Manduria Sport (Image: Newsquest) By way of example, it states that a new sponsor investing €100,000 will be issued a receipt by Mr Di Maggio's company, InnovaItalia, which is 100% tax deductible. In addition "with the collaboration of the InnovaItalia team" a €75,000 tax credit will be issued based on a 2017 law to encourage advertising investment in local media - a 75% credit for companies investing in advertising campaigns in daily and weekly newspapers, and on local television and radio stations. It's alleged the company, of which Mr Di Maggio is the sole director, was used as an intermediary in the scheme involving both Scottish registered companies. The investigation had been going on for more than a year before prosecutors issued seven seizure decrees, freezing €400m in tax credits. Mr Di Maggio is alleged to have been heavily involved in the system. Between 2022 and 2023, the documents allege, he was the founder or administrator of a number of companies which bought software from Global Services 2 including Sanitas Group, a supplier of bed linen, Salento Rent Car, an agricultural machinery repair company called Eurodiagnostica and San Giuseppe Funeral Services. Mr Di Maggio is named in two of the seven emergency seizure orders issued by the public prosecutor's office. Under Italian law, prosecutors can apply for such an order - which has to be signed off by a judge within 10 days - in cases where "there is a danger that the free availability of an item pertinent to the (alleged) crime could aggravate or prolong the consequences of the crime or facilitate the commission of other crimes". All seven orders in the Taranto case have been signed off by investigating judge Francesco Maccagnano. All those under investigation are considered innocent until a final ruling has been issued, i.e if they have been convicted and all appeals have been exhausted. Those under investigation are suspects, not defendants, until such time as they are summoned to a preliminary hearing in front of a judge at which prosecutors will present their evidence, with the judge then deciding if it is sufficient to proceed to trial.

Daily Mirror

2 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Managing Mercedes as Antonelli signs plus Verstappen and Russell decisions made

It's not even midway through the 2025 Formula 1 season, and anticipation is already high regarding Mercedes' line-up for next year amid fresh rumours Max Verstappen could join Toto Wolff and the Mercedes team are approaching a major crossroads in regards to their driver line-up for next season. And with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli set to see their contracts expire in December, resolutions are needed sooner rather than later. Antonelli, 18, replaced Lewis Hamilton at the end of 2024 when he signed a one-year deal with the Silver Arrows. Russell's three-year contract is also due to run out when this season concludes, and the team is running it close in terms of making a decision over their pairing for 2026. ‌ Then there's the looming figure of Max Verstappen, who has long been admired by team principal Wolff but is contracted at Red Bull until 2028. However, there have been inklings he could exit that deal early, and Mercedes face a conundrum in whether they should be the ones to execute that break-up. ‌ After years spent on the F1 throne, Mercedes now faces going a fifth straight year without a title to its name. With that in mind, Mirror Sport has taken a crack at determining which composition makes the most strategic sense before preparations begin for the 2026 campaign. Kimi Antonelli re-signs This feels like the easiest decision of the lot. Ignoring the fact Mercedes need results now and not in a few years time, Antonelli simply seems too promising a talent to part ways with, not to mention the fact he's a cheap expense on the salary bill. The teenager has adapted well to the demands of F1, and aside from a couple of retirements for which he can't be held responsible, he has largely overperformed in his senior debut. Montreal turned out to be a fabulous weekend for Mercedes as Antonelli snagged third place to go along with Russell's win, making the former the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history. That's after the Italian already became the second-youngest points-scorer in F1 and the youngest to both lead a race and set a fastest lap (at Suzuka). So while he may sit seventh in the standings for the time being, Antonelli has provided plenty of reasons to believe that ranking could rocket over time. In short, releasing Antonelli now in favour of a more senior name feels like a decision Mercedes would inevitably come to regret in time. And while he may not be ready to lead the team to silverware in the immediate future, there's every sign that time may not be too far off. ‌ George Russell retained Taking into account the fact Mercedes have been fighting with an inferior car in recent years, Russell has been a model professional throughout those travails. And it would be an indictment on the team if their response to that loyalty was to drop the axe on their current No. 1. And it's not as though Russell hasn't been producing the goods, as evidenced when Mercedes' rear suspension changes opened the path to victory in Canada. The Briton has as many podium finishes as Verstappen this season (five) and now boasts just one fewer win, admirably filling Hamilton's shoes as lead driver. Wolff acknowledged Russell's progress at the Canadian Grand Prix this past weekend. And he said the 27-year-old is giving his bosses "all the reasons" to re-sign him on fresh terms following his pole position, which he would later convert into a win. ‌ "He's giving us all the reasons to do that quickly," said the Mercedes chief. "We know what he's capable of doing and he has been leading this team now since a while. He has the pace and the right attitude. He's been a Mercedes junior [for] such a long time, and we are on track in doing what we've always planned." There's also the fact F1 is at its core a numbers game, and Russell currently costs almost three times less than Verstappen. His reported £15million-a-year wage is liable to grow if he signs an extension but it's still far from matching Verstappen's reported £40m-a-year expense. ‌ That's a gargantuan amount that could otherwise be dedicated to the research and development of a winning car. And in truth, that's where the battle for F1 supremacy is currently being won, or in Mercedes' case, lost. Max Verstappen rejected The much harder route would be to persist in recruiting Verstappen, who still has another three seasons to run on his Red Bull contract. And that means on top of paying the Dutchman's salary, the Silver Arrows would also have to compensate his current outfit for terminating his deal early. There's also the fact Mercedes would likely have to radically improve his wages, with Aston Martin also vying for his signature. Previous reports have suggested a record-breaking amount in the hundreds of millions would be required to lure the four-time world champion. ‌ That's money Mercedes cannot, or rather should not, be willing to risk considering success still isn't guaranteed with him suddenly in silver. Not to mention the political implications given his numerous fallouts with the likes of Hamilton and Russell in recent years, simultaneously rubbing up Mercedes' legions of fans the wrong way. Wolff has rarely shied away from waxing lyrical about Verstappen and said in March 2024 that he would "love" to have him aboard, per Sky Sports. He added at the time: "This is a decision that Max needs to take and there is no team up and down the grid that wouldn't do handstands to have him in the car." ‌ If only handstands were all that's required, Wolff would have recruited the 27-year-old long ago. Instead, Mercedes are better off dedicating themselves to the much cheaper solution in Russell, who is only marginally worse off than Verstappen this season in what many would call a worse car. There's also the major risk that Mercedes would be investing in a star who has already past his peak and no longer has the hunger of old. He has already made numerous nods to a potential early retirement, which is rarely a good sign when it comes to sustaining success. His frustrations have been on display for all to see after spending much of 2025 thus far trailing the superior McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. And it may be Mercedes simply sees more of the same, the only difference being they'd be the ones footing the bill.

Daily Mirror

4 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Alexander Isak update emerges as Viktor Gyokeres rejects £11m-a-year offer

Arsenal are expected to be amongst the Premier League's top spenders this summer as Mikel Arteta and Co look for a new striker and further signings to help them in their latest title bid Arsenal are still on the hunt for a new No.9. And with the transfer window starting to heat up, the Gunners could soon be making a play for their top target. It still remains unclear exactly who that is; Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko are seen as the two most likely options to spearhead Arsenal 's attack in the upcoming 2025-26 season and both are expected to leave their respective clubs this summer. ‌ Arsenal and Liverpool also hold an interest in Alexander Isak, although it is expected the Newcastle star will stay put for now. ‌ With Mikel Arteta also keen on adding a new wide forward to his attacking ranks plenty of activity is expected in north London over the coming weeks. Here, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest transfer news from in and around The Emirates... Isak staying put All parties believe that it's a 'certainty' that Alexander Isak will remain with Newcastle this summer despite interest in the Sweden international's services from Arsenal and Liverpool. Both Arsenal and newly minted Premier League champions are in the market for a new No.9 this summer and Isak - the top-flight's second highest scorer last term with 23 goals - is a signing both clubs would love to make. However, Newcastle are in a position of strength after qualifying for the Champions League and, as per The Telegraph, it's expected they will keep hold of their star striker this summer. ‌ Gyokeres rejects huge offer Viktor Gyokeres is said to have rejected a significant approach from Juventus which would have seen the sought-after Sporting Lisbon star land a lucrative contract worth £11million-a-year. It emerged earlier this week that the Italian giants had tabled the huge offer in a bid to land Gyokeres ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United. ‌ But with Arsenal being Gyokeres' preferred destination, Corriere dello Sport report that Juventus have been informed the Swede will not be joining them. Zubimendi in London Martin Zubimendi flew into London Friday to finalise his summer transfer from Real Sociedad, according to The Athletic. ‌ Zubimendi, 26, came close to joining Liverpool last year before a change of heart at the eleventh hour, but it emerged back in the spring that a move to Arsenal was as good as done. And official confirmation of said deal could now be imminent with Zubimendi in the UK to put pen to paper.