London Taxi Company through its new parent company, leading Chinese automotive manufacturer, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, brings in a new model for 2017. Called TX5, this new London taxi receives a hybrid powertrain and a bold black new look, which still captures the spirit of past generations of the Black Cab that is iconic to the streets of London.
2017 London Taxi TX5 was showcased to the President of China Xi Jinping and to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at an event held in Lancaster House in London. It is being produced at the company plant in Warwickshire, where Geeley also announced additional investment of £300 million. The investment will create more than 1,000 jobs and around 500 additional jobs in the supply chain.
Built of a light weight aluminum structure, 2017 London Taxi TX5 is large enough to accommodate upto 6 passengers. Driver and passenger comforts abound in its cabin with ample head and leg room. Its rear hinged doors allowing easier ingress and egress opening wide enough for a forward facing wheelchair, thus coming to the aid of passenger with issues with mobility. It is for the first time that a London Black Cab will sport a panoramic grass roof while its cabin is WiFi enabled with on board charging points.
Designed at Geely’s design centre in Barcelona, headed by British designers Peter Horbury and David Ancona with help from a team of 200 engineers and designers, 2017 London Taxi TX5 is built of 2,000 components designed from scratch with the best of technologies. It ditches its 2.5 liter diesel engine for a new battery electric powertrain capable of zero emissions.
While details of power and performance have not yet been detailed, 2017 London Taxi TX5 is slated for launch in 2017. It will have a turning circle of less than 28 feet and will adhere to the law from 1906 which makes it mandatory for taxi cabs to navigate the tight turnaround at the entrance to Savoy Hotel in Westminster.
