The London Taxi Company (LTC) has unveiled the next generation of the London Taxi.
The London Taxi Company (LTC) has unveiled the next generation of the London Taxi. The new prototype taxi has been called the TX5.
The next generation of the London taxi has been called the TX5 and it is a hybrid
The Coventry-based company has been taken over by a Chinese automobile manufacturer called Geely. Geely also owns Volvo.
Although it has been claimed that the new car has been designed from the ground up, a lot of styling cues have been taken from the iconic Black Cab and this immediately evident when the vehicle is viewed. Even though it retains the instantly recognisable key features, the new taxi has features that have been designed keeping in mind the requirements of the modern traveller and government restrictions. The taxi has been designed from the ground up.
The design has been focussed on improving comfort for the driver and the passengers. The driver gets more leg room now. The rear doors are hinged at the back, like the doors found on a Rolls Royce Phantom. These doors are called ‘Suicide doors’ and make it easy for passengers to enter or exit the vehicle. There is also space for a forward facing wheelchair. The new Black Cab taxi gets a panoramic glass roof, WiFi internet capability and charging points for drivers and passengers. The vehicle can seat six passengers.
The TX5 is made up of more than 2000 components and features light-weight aluminium body structure and composite panelling. It is a hybrid vehicle. It is powered by an electric motor. The batteries also get a range extender to reduce range anxiety and improve reliability. It is a zero emissions vehicle. According to London laws, all taxis have to be zero-emission vehicles by 2018. The range extender is a four cylinder petrol engine.
The TX5 prototype taxi was unveiled for the first time in the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a four-day visit to the UK. The taxi will go on sale in the UK at the end of 2017 and will be exported to international markets in 2018. Hopefully, the Indian market is considered.