Replacing a globally renowned icon is no mean feat, but that’s exactly what the London Taxi Company will be doing this year. The Coventry-based firm is set to roll out an all-new black cab with a range-extending hybrid powertrain at the end of this year.
Called the TX5, the new London taxi is completely redesigned from the ground up, including a new platform architecture and a state-of-the-art plug-in powertrain. It uses a three-cylinder petrol engine as a generator for a large battery pack and electric motors – allowing a pure-EV range said to be “well over 100 miles”. It also features six passenger seats and is fully wheelchair compatible, unlike the current black cab.
The London Taxi Company (LTC) was bought out by Chinese carmaker Geely back in 2012 and a large investment of £275m has been made with the aim of bringing a petrol-electric taxi to market before Transport for London brings in new emissions legislation. Auto Express has spoken to LTC’s new CEO, Chris Gubbey, who revealed further details.
Gubbey joined LTC last year, with a long global automotive background including stints at Ford and General Motors. He has ambitions beyond the UK’s capital with the TX5, and discussions are underway with a number of European cities.
“It is important that this is also rolled out across Europe, as there has been a considerable investment for this project,” Gubbey said.
“These will be very tough markets to get into, though – they are very nationalistic. But London as a city is not unique in wanting to improve local air quality”.
The high-tech new production facility (described as being “like something out of Formula 1” by bosses) has the capacity to build up to 36,000 units annually. Gubbey’s target is for 50 per cent of London’s black cab fleet to convert to the new TX5 by 2020 – that’s fewer than 12,000 vehicles.
LTC itself has doubled its research and development staff number – up to 600 – in the last year. Gubbey says that most of the engineering work for the TX5 is already done, and the staff are now in the process of “fine tuning” the production car.
Gubbey claims that LTC is also looking into using the TX5 platform for a commercial vehicle. He cites the public’s change in purchasing habits as being a “perfect opportunity” to launch a small petrol-electric van to meet the challenge of potential city centre diesel bans in future.
TX5 design – classic black cab lines reinvented
The TX5 design concept captures the spirit of past generations of LTC models and draws on more than sixty years of style that has made the black cab and iconic sight on the streets of London. Senior vice president of Geely design, Peter Horbury, told Auto Express: “The brief was clear. It has to look like a London taxi.”
The new design uses a similarly vertical front grille, and rounded headlights, with a more upright stance and chrome touches. While the interior design is still under consideration, the six-seat layout has been confirmed, alongside the large panoramic glass roof for a more “premium experience.”
David Ancona, Design Director of Geely Barcelona said: “This decision was market driven. The [Mercedes] Vito was quite successful because it had that extra seat. It allowed three couples to go out together, or people to go to airports in groups. So it was decided to go that way.”
It makes use of a new lightweight aluminium structure and composite panelling, allowing the model to achieve a “full five-star Euro NCAP score” – according to Geely bosses.
As before, the new London taxi will use a front engine, rear-wheel drive layout, allowing it to boast the same market-leading tight turning circle. Despite its obvious associations with the outgoing TX4, Geely tells us all 2,000 components have been designed from the ground up.
The taxi isn’t due to hit the streets until later this year. Despite the higher specification and complex drivetrain, Ancona insists the TX5 won’t cost any more to buy or lease than the current model – thanks to government subsidies for low emission vehicles.
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