A small vehicle for urban micromobility that can be shared for people’s small daily trips. Mole Urbana, the quadricycle designed by the Turin designer Umberto Palermo, with squared and a bit retro shapes, was born with this intent. “I didn’t want to design a miniature car, but a system that can be integrated into the urban environment designed specifically to be rented and shared among different road users,” says Palermo during the presentation at Mauto (Museo dell’Automobile di Torino).
Mole Urbana is available in three versions: the Small, 3.2 metres long, 1.49 wide and 1.4 high, will have two seats, the Medium, 3.4 metres long, 1.49 wide and 1.4 high, will have a passenger compartment for three people and finally the Large, 3.7 metres long by 1.49 wide and 1.20 high, which can also accommodate three people but has more space for luggage. The battery packs are modular and, depending on the version chosen, have an autonomy ranging from 75 to 150 kilometers for a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour.
The version unveiled at the Automobile Museum in Turin is the Small and, assures Palermo, “we will drive it soon. We want to offer users the opportunity to make the first test drives as early as autumn”. Stylistically, this small car has squared shapes with aluminium frames divided by large sound-absorbing glass surfaces. The luggage racks are positioned on the outside of the car. Among the further differences of the various fittings are the headlights, which in the case of the Small consist of a single unit in the centre of the front.
Compared to the concept version presented this spring, the Mole Urbana Small has undergone some minor variations in the interior. Rational and modern, they feature a large touchscreen display in front of the driver from which digital instrumentation, navigation and infotainment system functions are transmitted. According to the design house, the first prototypes are already ready and the intention is to produce 50 Mole Urbana by this year, 150 in 2021, 200 in 2022 and 300 in 2023. The quadricycles will be built by Pretto, a company that works for Piaggio, Dongfeng and Isuzu, while distribution and rental will be entrusted to Movim, a long-term rental company.
