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New low-emissions London Black Cab to be based on Mercedes-Benz Vito Traveliner
Londoners could be swapping out black cabs for black vans pretty soon. EcoCity vehicles, through its subsidiary KPM-UK, has worked with LTI, the maker of the famous black cab, for almost 20 years. Now EcoCity has signed an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to produce cabs out of Vito Traveliner vans, which produce lower emissions than the LTI offering.
With 93-percent of the London taxi market owned by black cabs, we wouldn't expect to see Traveliners dominating The City any time soon. For EcoCity, it was more about offering a more environmental choice for drivers and customers. Former mayor Ken Livingstone was a big proponent of that, if you'll remember. And for the city of London, it could mean less of the brown stuff in the air. The Traveliner taxi will be launched next week, and go on sale shortly after.
[Source: The Telegraph via Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
john riley 7:05AM (6/19/2008)
NYC is right. Taxis should be hybrids, not diesels. They sit in traffic a lot. Engines should be off.
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mole 7:47AM (6/19/2008)
they should be having diesel hybrids
Craig 7:35AM (6/19/2008)
What are the chances that they rebody the Merc with a black cab body?
It would change shape but with how indifferent most people are about car designs, they wouldn't notice a difference other than some extra room in the back.
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Jason 11:54AM (6/19/2008)
that's a nice looking minivan.
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André 12:48PM (6/19/2008)
Do anyone know the turning radius of a Vito? The black cab has a very, very small one.
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