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NEWS
Nissan unveils new London black cab
All-new Nissan cab designed in UK for London. Production version will be launched in December this yearThe iconic black cab (or hackney carriage) is as synonymous with London as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Wembley Stadium and the Tower Bridge.
It’s as British as British can get, but the familiar TX1 and TX4 (manufactured by the London Taxi Company) are about to be usurped by a Nissan-built intruder.
Pictured alongside is a new take on the London Hackney Carriage, based on Nissan’s multipurpose NV200 van.
It may not win too many beauty contests, but the new vehicle is claimed to be more spacious and fuel-efficient than the TX1/TX4, while still retaining a clear visual identity as a London cab.
As such, its maker says it was designed for London, in London, by Nissan Design Europe (NDE) in Paddington – the same design centre responsible for the Dualis and Juke.
The Nissan cab will be launched in December this year, with propulsion coming from a 1.6-litre petrol engine hooked up to a CVT (continuously variable transmission). Nissan claims this powertrain emits far lower particulate emissions than the existing diesel-powered cabs, but there’s also a zero-emission electric version that’s due to be launched next year.
Nissan isn’t entirely new to the London taxi business, as it supplied its 2.7-litre TD27 diesel engine for the FX4 ‘Fairway’ and TX1 black cabs during the 1980s and ’90s and gained a reputation for reliability and durability.
In developing the NV200 Taxi for London, Nissan says it had to ensure the vehicle adhered to the strict regulations governing Hackney Carriages, including the required 25-foot (7.6-metre) turning circle.
The NV200 cab for London is part of Nissan’s global taxi program, which also includes New York, Barcelona and Tokyo.
The London taxi follows in the wheeltracks of a concept revealed in 2012, having gained a raft of styling tweaks to endow it with the familiar visual character of the black cab. So while its profile may be different to the TX1, the round headlights, toothy chrome grille and all-black paintwork will leave commuters in no doubt about its identity.
Prices will reportedly be competitive with the existing TX4 taxi, starting around £30,000 ($55k). Servicing costs are also likely to be lower than the competition, thanks to elements such as 14-inch wheels, reducing tyre replacement costs.
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Written byGautam Sharma
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