Nissan will unveil its final design for a new London taxi in the next month, with the firm's executive vice president Andy Palmer confirming he signed off the final production model this week.
The car will sit in the same platform as the New York taxi developed by Nissan, but has been substantially restyled to retain the hallmarks of the classic black cab. The design work has also been conducted with substantial input from current drivers.
It will initially be sold with a 1.5-litre diesel engine, but longer term Palmer hopes the fast-charging infrastructure in London will evolve to make electric versions of the car viable.
"Running costs for an electric vehicle are about a tenth of a diesel, so the business case is there, so long as charging times can be reduced," said Palmer.
Palmer conceeded the project is unlikely to make Nissan much profit, with just 20,000 London taxis in operation at the moment. However, in time he sees the project as invaluable for promoting electric cars.
"The best way to answer concerns about electric cars is to get people into them," said Palmer. "If you think of the millions who ride in black cabs each day, then you get a feel for what these vehicles could achieve in terms of changing perceptions."
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Taxi
If Nissan pull there finger out and get this passed and on sale they will make a killing as long as it retails at a sensible price.my cab is an R reg tx1 which has to come off the road this year.many of my friends are in the same position and would jump at this cab.yes it's a shame the traditional London cab is to expensive unreliable and a fortune to run I would never buy a Tx again and as for the merc ! 42 k in this climate, no chance So come on nissan get this cab out at a reasonable price.ps. Please don't sell this cab through any exsisting taxi network
Black is best
Nasty looking thing, but at least black paint will disguise some of its ungainly touches, unlike NY's yellow version.
Theyre going to restyle it ?
Theyre going to restyle it ? ! Are you sure Autocar ? I really dont think they will, too high a cost for too small an amount they will sell. Sure they may add little things like the trad "for hire" sign on the top, but its gonna look like an NV200 taxi. Not saying thats a bad thing, its just NOT going to look anything like the classic black cab.