london is going to get a little bit uglier

[veeman]

i can't believe the same atrocity to hit NYC will also hit London 

http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/cor-blimey-its-londons-new-black-cab-2013-01-06

[FoMoJo]

Jesus!

[giant_mtb]

Wait. Why are they using the gasser instead of the diesel...?

[Secret Chimp]

Wait. Why are they using the gasser instead of the diesel...?

If you've walked around urban London at all, you know the last thing it needs is even more diesel floating around in the air. I get a cough after a couple days.

[CALL_911]

hahahaha that thing looks hilarious

[Colin]

It is utterly hideous!

Not that LTI TX4, the current taxi, is exactly good looking.

[FoMoJo]

It is utterly hideous!

Not that LTI TX4, the current taxi, is exactly good looking.

It's classic man...form follows function.  That sort of thing.  The Nissan is just plain stupid looking.

[Raza]

Why would urban taxis not be hybrids?

[NomisR]

Why would urban taxis not be hybrids?

CNG Hybrids would probably make sense for Taxis too.  But CNG tanks takes up a lot of trunk space.

[AutobahnSHO]

CNG Hybrids would probably make sense for Taxis too.  But CNG tanks takes up a lot of trunk space.

Really they don't, unless it's a small sedan.

[NomisR]

Really they don't, unless it's a small sedan.

Well, due to the shape of the tanks though, it's hard to fit it in the same space that a normal gas tank would go and there's less space efficiency for a compress tank compared to a liquid.  But for a purpose built vehicle to accommidate for the CNG tank, they can probably make it more space efficient. 

[cawimmer430]

Is this a joke? That thing looks RETARDED!

[cawimmer430]

Hello!? Um, London!!! 

[2o6]

Too long, not handicapped accessable.



Aside from being ugly, the NV200 is the perfect taxi.

[cawimmer430]

Too long, not handicapped accessable.

[veeman]

Too long, not handicapped accessable.



Aside from being ugly, the NV200 is the perfect taxi.

A taxi is very much part of the city landscape.  Designing an ugly taxi is no different than designing an ugly skyscraper.  They may be great functionally but still a travesty.  This is something, aesthetically, I'd expect from communist era Soviet Union. 

[Madman]

A taxi is very much part of the city landscape.  Designing an ugly taxi is no different than designing an ugly skyscraper.

Now London will have both kinds of ugly.



.

[Colin]

That front end really does make a Ssangyong look pretty.

Interesting perspective here: http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/industry/nissans-black-cab-entering-one-most-complex-car-markets-world

[Soup DeVille]

Now London will have both kinds of ugly.



.


:face palm

Did that ever stop cooking Jaguars?

[Colin]

Yes - but perhaps only because the temperature returned to normal (and the sun resumed its appearances to being co-star with clouds)........ don't know whether they actually addressed the fundamental issue or not. It ceased to be news when something else got the Daily Mail all agitated. 

[Tave]

Haha, the Meltinator. I almost forgot about that.

The traditional London cab is ugly as sin too. It eventually warmed its way into the hearts of the populace, but it's not like they're giving up a fleet of Jaguar XJs or something.