14 DAY TRIAL // This past January 6, Japanese multinational automaker Nissan unveiled a brand-new version of the black cab that folks in London are all too familiar with.
Information shared with the public says that, should things go as planned, the new taxi will hit streets sometime in this year's December.
In a press release on the matter at hand, the Japanese automaker details that the taxi is fitted with a 1.6-liter petrol engine.
According to Nissan, this engine is way more environmentally friendly than the 2.5-liter diesel one that the majority of the cabs currently driven up and down streets in London hide under their hood.
“From launch the new taxi will be available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine equipped with an automatic gearbox. Compared to current diesel London taxis, this engine will be far cleaner, with lower levels of NOx [mono-nitrogen oxides NO and NO2, i.e. nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide] and particulates,” the company writes on its website.
“Nissan franchised dealer group, Glyn Hopkin, has been appointed as the exclusive retailer to sell the Nissan NV200 Taxi for London from a purpose-built, ultra-modern showroom facility based in Canary Wharf,” it adds.
By the looks of it, the taxi will sell for about £30,000 (€36,133 / $49,160), Daily Mail reports.
The same source tells us that, much like the cabs that people in London are already all too accustomed to, Nissan's version of the black cab sports round and fairly big headlights, and over-sized grills.
“The Mayor's office and taxi drivers were very keen that we maintain the character of the Hackney Carriage, making it something that people in the city can be proud of,” explains Design Excellence Manager at NDE (Nissan Design Europe), Darryl Scriven.
The Japanese automaker says that, although the cab has been developed with London in mind, other cities will have the possibility to add it to their fleet.
Interestingly enough, the company says that, sometime in 2015, it will unveil an all-electric version of this taxi. This vehicle, dubbed e-NV200, will produce no greenhouse gas emissions whatsoever.