Japanese automaker Nissan has taken the wraps off the NV200-based London Taxi vehicle. Developed at Nissan’s European design center in the United Kingdom, the London Taxi received a brand new front end that makes it “instantly recognizable as one of the capital’s iconic black cabs.”
Designed by the same team who created the Juke - which pretty much explains the ugl... erm, let’s call it different... face - the London Taxi will be launched in December with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine under the hood, while an electric version, dubbed e-NV200 London Taxi, will follow sometime in 2015.
Besides the brand new headlamps, “black cab” grilleand new front bumper panels, the London Taxi also comes with a LED taxi sign and a white stripe behind the front doors and round the back. As you’ll notice from the photos below, the gasoline and EV version will feature different front grilles.
“The main challenges were concerned with making sure customers can easily recognise it as a taxi. Being in London, we were able to go out and talk to cabbies about what was important to them as well as look at the vehicle from a customer’s viewpoint. It’s unusual for us to be able to work on something as bespoke as this, specifically for one location in the world and we are very proud to have been asked to do so,” said Darryl Scriven, design manager at NDE.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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