New plug-in black cab unveiled in London

A new plug-in hybrid black cab has been unveiled in London as part of the Chinese president Xi Jinping’s state visit.

The London Taxi Company (LTC) TX 5 incorporates a battery electric set up paired with a a nose-mounted four-cylinder petrol engine and is capable of running for an extended period entirely on battery power.

The new taxi will also feature improved driver leg room, the return of the rear hinged door for easier passenger access and a new panoramic glass roof.

It is set to go on sale in the UK 2017, with international release in 2018.

LTC’s parent company, Chinese automotive manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, also announced its intention to invest an additional £50 million in its new production facility in Ansty, Warwickshire, to turn the site into the group’s UK R&D headquarters.
 
Peter Johansen, CEO of The London Taxi Company said: “We are hugely excited to be unveiling the TX5 prototype design for the first time and in such high company. The new vehicle has a wealth of new features, which will all be tried and tested and then tested again to provide a perfect balance of timeless design driven by ground-breaking technology.”

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