Nissan introduces Black Cab

The Black cab is a symbol of London and our whole country, it is instantly recognisable. So what would you think if the London Black Cab got re-designed? Well Nissan have produced their own take on the Black Cab and it is being supported by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

It is not just our London Cabs that will see a new rival; the Nissan NV200 has already been introduced to Tokyo and is also set to be a new replacement for the iconic Yellow Cab of New York. We have to ask, can Nissan really replace such strong symbols?

The London version of the Nissan NV200 is a bit different to the Tokyo and New York versions; it has a wider axel and better suspension to allow a turning circle of 25ft. This is a requirement of all London taxis as they have to be able to get around tight roundabouts such as the famous Savoy Hotel on The Strand.

The taxi is based on the Nissan NV200 Compact Van; this has been taken and made into a passenger friendly vehicle. It can hold five people and has plenty of room for luggage too. One of the other main focuses of the NV200 is to be accessible for anyone, so Nissan have installed a wide-opening sliding door which has been designed to make it easier for wheelchair users to get in and out of the taxi.

There are some great features on the inside too; the Nissan has USB charging points for passengers and a glass panoramic roof which give a fantastic alternative view of London’s sights for the passenger.

Nissan have said that the new NV200 will be 50% more fuel efficient than the current London taxis which are the TX4 London Taxis. Nissan have also said that it could save cab drivers around £700 in fuel costs. Annual Co2 emissions will be reduced by 37,970 metric tonnes.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, said: “Having taken the significant step of introducing the first age limit for taxis in London (cabs over 15 years old are being decommissioned), I am absolutely delighted that manufacturers are stepping up to the plate and are responding to the challenge I set in my air quality strategy to reduce taxi emissions and improve efficiency.” 

This is all very good stuff, but will people miss the old classic London Black Cabs? Is this enough to convince people that changes are a good thing?