Eli Electric Vehicles is getting ready to reveal a new version of its tiny electric microcar, and this one could expand its usefulness beyond the slow lane.
In an Instagram teaser ahead of EICMA in Milan, the company announced the upcoming Eli ZERO MX, describing it as a new L7e vehicle joining its lineup. Eli also teased a special Race Edition, with promotional artwork showing a dark, sporty-looking ZERO with red accents and a visibly open-sided cabin.
The teaser doesn’t give us much to go on in terms of hard and fast details, but the L7e designation is the biggest clue here.
The familiar European Eli ZERO that we test-drove a few years ago is an L6e light quadricycle, with a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). Its compact two-seat layout makes it an appealing urban runabout, though that speed ceiling limits its usefulness on faster roads. But L7e vehicles can typically travel at speeds of up to 80-90 km/h (50-56 mph).
A faster version could make the little EV practical for considerably more trips. And there’s already a tantalizing hint: Eli’s Italian website lists an L7e ZERO capable of 85 km/h (53 mph), with a claimed range of up to 200 km (124 miles). Whether those specifications directly describe the upcoming ZERO MX remains unconfirmed by the teaser.
If they do, that would suggest a much more versatile commuter while retaining the tiny footprint that makes these vehicles so easy to park.
The Race Edition raises a different set of questions. The new vehicle could feature a sportier design, such as race seats and alternative doors. That could point toward a playful or more tuned vehicle, though we’ll have to wait to learn whether “Race” means additional performance or primarily a styling package.
It’s also unclear how closely the Race Edition and ZERO MX are related. The caption presents them separately, while the artwork additionally points towards a second-generation ZERO.
Either way, a roughly 50 mph Eli would be an interesting proposition: still small enough to rethink how much vehicle a daily commute requires, but potentially fast enough to cover routes the original couldn’t comfortably handle.
Eli says the reveal takes place at EICMA, November 3–8, in Hall 22, Stand B40. We’ll be there to see what they unveil.
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