Nissan NV200 Taxi for London
The new Nissan Taxi - or Hackney Carriage, to use the correct term - is due to start appearing on London’s streets in December. Handsome it is not.
That’s no surprise, because the taxi is based on the Spanish-built NV200 van which suffers odd proportions thanks to its seemingly tiny castor-like wheels and tall, narrow stance. A completely redesigned front end, a pair of massive round headlights and a traditional roof-mounted taxi sign don’t make things any more attractive.
+Front+Side.jpg "Nissan NV200 Taxi For London (2014) Front Side")
But does such ugliness actually matter? Probably not for passengers, who first and foremost want to be able to easily identify a London cab. They’ll certainly have no problem recognising the NV200 with its pastiche face.
Taxi drivers aren’t likely to be too bothered by the looks either. After all, plenty bought the now defunct Metrocab and it often resembled a poorly-executed kit car. For them ride comfort, space and running costs are more important considerations.
Interestingly, the NV200 Taxi eschews diesel power. Instead, it’s fitted with a 1.6 litre petrol engine that drives the front wheels via an automatic transmission, thereby supporting the argument that lowering exhaust pollution shouldn’t just focus on carbon dioxide. Even greener will be the zero emissions, all-electric e-NV200 version which is scheduled to arrive sometime during 2015.
+Front+Side.jpg "Nissan e-NV200 Taxi For London (2015) Front Side")
Nevertheless, it’s a shame Nissan’s effort isn’t more aesthetically pleasing. Unlike the classic FX4 that was launched in the late 1950s, don’t expect the NV200 Taxi to become part of London’s iconography.
Related post:
City Express van is a re-branded NV200
That’s no surprise, because the taxi is based on the Spanish-built NV200 van which suffers odd proportions thanks to its seemingly tiny castor-like wheels and tall, narrow stance. A completely redesigned front end, a pair of massive round headlights and a traditional roof-mounted taxi sign don’t make things any more attractive.
+Front+Side.jpg "Nissan NV200 Taxi For London (2014) Front Side")
But does such ugliness actually matter? Probably not for passengers, who first and foremost want to be able to easily identify a London cab. They’ll certainly have no problem recognising the NV200 with its pastiche face.
Taxi drivers aren’t likely to be too bothered by the looks either. After all, plenty bought the now defunct Metrocab and it often resembled a poorly-executed kit car. For them ride comfort, space and running costs are more important considerations.
Interestingly, the NV200 Taxi eschews diesel power. Instead, it’s fitted with a 1.6 litre petrol engine that drives the front wheels via an automatic transmission, thereby supporting the argument that lowering exhaust pollution shouldn’t just focus on carbon dioxide. Even greener will be the zero emissions, all-electric e-NV200 version which is scheduled to arrive sometime during 2015.
+Front+Side.jpg "Nissan e-NV200 Taxi For London (2015) Front Side")
Nevertheless, it’s a shame Nissan’s effort isn’t more aesthetically pleasing. Unlike the classic FX4 that was launched in the late 1950s, don’t expect the NV200 Taxi to become part of London’s iconography.
Related post:
City Express van is a re-branded NV200
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