A $30K electric Isetta replica with 200km range? Where do we sign?!

You may not have heard of electric car brand Artega, but if the company's aggressive urban mobility growth plan goes to schedule, it could become a household name. Well, if you live in a European city, anyway.

That's because the company is set to build an all-new city car that is, shall we say, very much inspired by the iconic classic BMW Isetta. You know, the one with the door on the front, that has the steering wheel attached to it.

Read more

Cheapest electric car in Australia

Well, the Artega Karo-Isetta that has been revealed is set to hit the road in 2020, with production cars launching in Germany this month.

The diminutive four-wheeler uses a lithium-ion battery pack from Voltabox, capable of 200 kilometres of range, while its electric motor is said to offer a top speed of 90km/h. It uses a Type 2 charging plug, but no charge times or power figures have been announced. No interior pictures have been seen yet, either.

The model is available from just €17,995 (AUD $29,290), and for that buyers will get LED headlights, DRLs and tail-lights, sliding side windows, as well as a rag-top roof.

If the car looks familiar to another modern-day take on the Isetta, you may be thinking of the Microlino bubble car, which is set to be produced by push-scooter brand Micro Mobility Systems from 2022. There have apparently been 16,000 reservations for the Microlino.

If the car looks familiar to another modern-day take on the Isetta, you may be thinking of the Microlino bubble car.

The two brands have just settled their design battle out of court, and it's expected both cars will be seen on European city streets in the coming years.