A 6ft 2in businessman has become the first person in Britain to buy a new Italian car – but there’s a problem.
Richard Carter, founder of card payment app Lopay, bought the Microlino Bubble Car last month and is now awaiting delivery of the shiny new Italian electric car to his home in south London.
It might prove a little cramped, though, as the micro machine measures just 8.25 feet long by 4.8 feet wide and 4.9 feet tall, leaving 6-foot-3 Richard able to stick his head through the sunroof.
The father-of-two is undaunted by the size and plans to order 30 more £17,000 cars for his sales team.
He also has an even bigger job in mind for the mini-mover: using the Microlino to take his 10-year-old daughter Sophie to school.
A British entrepreneur has become the first person in the UK to buy the new ‘Bubble Car’. Despite being one of the smallest cars in the world, the makers have made sure that all the modern conveniences are taken into account, including a Bluetooth speaker instead of a radio.
Richard Carter plans to take his 10-year-old daughter, Sophie, to school in the new car.
Lopay boss Richard, who founded the card payment app two years ago, said: ‘As soon as I saw the Microlino I thought I had to get one.
‘They’re fun, surprisingly fast and incredibly spacious, even at 6’3″ tall, the car is enjoyable and a marked difference to anything I’ve driven in the past.
‘The car puts a smile on people’s faces and that’s what I aim to do both in business with Lopay, the UK’s highest rated and lowest cost app, and in life.
‘I even plan on taking my daughter to school in it, it’s easy to park and will make getting her to school a dream.
“Once your friends see you popping around in this little beauty, I’m sure they’ll be pestering their own parents to get one – you get a lot of attention driving one of these.”
Richard’s daughter Sophie, 10, added: “I think I’ll be the only pupil to appear in one of these.”
The arrival of a new mini-motor, made by the same firm behind children’s scooters, on the streets of Britain is a throwback to the popular Bubble Cars of the 1960s.
But unlike its 1960s predecessor, the Microlino is electric, can be charged in just four hours by plugging it into a socket at home, and can travel up to 140 miles on a single charge.
Despite being one of the smallest engines in the world, the manufacturers have made sure to factor in all the modern conveniences, including a Bluetooth speaker instead of a radio.
Unlike its 1960s predecessor, the Microlino is electric, can be charged in just four hours by plugging it into a socket at home, and can travel up to 140 miles on a single charge.
Richard will enjoy getting the most out of his new wheels as he rides them around the capital with the Italian-made engine marketed as perfect for urban driving.
The company will use Microlino to ensure its marketing teams can roll out the low-cost app across England, Wales and Scotland.
The 10.5 kWh (17 hp) Microlino reaches an impressive top speed of 90 km/h, including sunroof, crash bar, disc brakes, airbags and an anti-lock braking system.
The car is offered with three separate battery options with a range of between 93 and 225 kilometers of driving before a charge is necessary.