Nissan London Taxi Development Will Be Complete by End of Year

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has entered final durability testing of its next generation NV200-based London Taxi. The final car is expected to be ready by the end of 2013. Nissan has been testing them around London for the last 12 years. Sales will begin in the second half of 2014.

The NV200 London Taxi has a unique style to help it fit in London and to make it look more like the classic London black cab. The final design will be revealed before the end of the year, but it will include a new grill, bumper and lighting.

Nissan’s goal is to make the new London taxi the most reliable, economical and user-friendly version ever. It has been modified to comply with the legally mandated 25ft (7.6m) turning circle and will be offered with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 89hp. It is slated to get 53mpg UK (44mpg US or 5.33l/100km) combined fuel economy and emit 138g/km of CO2. These figures are cleaner than the current taxi, and Nissan is also trying to make it cheaper than the current one as well. 

Other upgrades include a glass roof to allow passengers to get a view of the city, separate rear air conditioning and outlets for charging smartphones.

Nissan’s Glyn Hopkin dealer group in London will sell the taxis and is building a specific facility to serve taxi drivers.

Nissan is also developing an EV version of the London taxi as well that may go on sale later.