Nissan has unveiled a new purpose-built model for the London black cab market.
The Nissan NV200 Taxi for London follows similar NV200-based taxis for New York, Tokyo and Barcelona, and will go on sale in the UK in December 2014. It has been designed by Nissan’s London design studio in Paddington, and is also set to undergo final assembly in the UK, too.
The design of the taxi includes several nods to the classic black cab, including in its front grille and round headlamp design. Also, there’s no Nissan badge on the front. The design has been done in consultation with organisations including the London Mayor’s office and Transport for London (TfL), who have backed the project.
The NV200 Taxi for London meets all guidelines on taxi turning circles, a redesign of the NV200’s front suspension, allowing it to meet the 7.6-metre requirement.
Power for the taxi comes from a 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT gearbox. An electric version of the NV200 Taxi for London has also been mooted for launch by 2016.
There are around 20,000 black cabs on London’s roads, but upcoming emission regulations will soon force many of the older cabs off the road, with Nissan targeting a significant share of the market that this will open up.
Dipan Sur
Dhruv Dhaka
Viraaj Bhatnagar
