The London ‘Black Cab’ Gets A Facelift From The Nissan NV200?

Nissan has unveiled a special variant of the 2014 NV200 van designed specifically for London taxi drivers.

Appropriately dubbed NV200 London Taxi, the van gains a modified front end that harks back to the iconic Black Cabs that have prowled the London streets in various forms for over half a century. The retro-styled treatment includes a new radiator grille with vertical slats, round headlamps surrounded by chrome bezels and a London-specific front bumper.

The rest of the van is identical to the NV200 that is sold in several countries around the globe. Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas-burning engine that sends at least 108 horsepower and 112 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels via an automatic transmission.

Taxi operators looking to eliminate their fuel budget will be able to order an all-electric variant of the van. Identical to the upcoming e-NV200, the no-emissions van will be powered by a Leaf-sourced 80-kilowatt electric motor linked to a lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the passenger compartment. The van's driving range has not been announced.

The NV200 London Taxi is scheduled to go on sale with a gas-burning engine in December of this year, and the all-electric model will arrive roughly a year later. Pricing information will be published closer to the vans' on-sale date.

Also, the city of Barcelona, Spain, is in talks with Nissan about possibly using the battery-powered e-NV2002 as taxis.