London Taxi Company TX5 revealed as a PHEV taxi

Think of London and the iconic black cabs that roam its streets will come to mind. Over time, the taxis have been replaced with newer models in order to meet the requirements of the time, be it for regulatory or aesthetic purposes.

Among the requirements of today are greener vehicles, and hence, the black cabs must adapt as well. The London Taxi Company (LTC) has revealed the all-new TX5 cab, coinciding with a meeting between British prime minister David Cameron and Chinese president Xi Jinping in the United Kingdom.

The British-Chinese relation is present in the new LTC TX5, where Geely currently owns the British outfit. The company previously announced plans to revitalise the Coventry-based firm with a £250 million investment to develop and manufacture the TX5 at a new factory at Ansty.

Specific details of the TX5’s oily bits haven’t been provided so far, but it is known to be a plug-in hybrid, powered by an electric motor with a petrol engine range extender. Speaking to Autocar UK, Geely design boss Peter Horbury said, “it is little taller and a little longer than its ancestors.”

The basic requirements for a London Taxi Company taxi like wheelchair access, luggage capacity located beside the driver, a small turning circle, and face-to-face passenger seating for six people, are all still present.

The new TX5 is styled at Geely’s design studio in Barcelona, with influences from the FX4 cab from 1958. Volvo, another company that is owned by Geely, formerly occupied the mentioned design studio.

Nissan too have had a go at trying to reinvent the iconic black cab with a modified NV200 London Taxi in the past, although that project appears to be put on hold indefinitely for now as it is deemed incapable of meeting London’s tough vehicle emissions standards.

For now, what do you think of the new, greener London Taxi Company cab? Is it still iconic as its predecessors?

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