Nissan has unveiled the new face of its NV200-based Taxi for London, with the van…suffering extensive aesthetic surgery in order to look similar to the city’s iconic black cabs.

Compared to the initial NV200 London taxi first unveiled in August 2012, the final version looks radically different, as Nissan listened to feedback from the London Mayor’s office, Transport for London and other key organizations that have backed the new taxi.

The NV200 cab for London is part of Nissan’s global taxi program, which also includes New York, Barcelona and Tokyo. Unlike the NV200 taxis for these cities that sport a similar look, the London edition gets a bespoke design, including round headlamps and re-modelled grille mirroring the traditional black cab “face”, LED lighting for the taxi sign and completely new front bumper panels.

Another London requirement was that the NV200 adhered to the strict TfL regulations governing Hackney Carriages, including the required 25-foot (7.6-meter) turning circle.

Developed for London in London by Nissan Design Europe (NDE) in Paddington, the new taxi will be launched in December 2014 with a 1.6-liter petrol engine mated to an automatic gearbox. Nissan says it has chosen this engine because it is “far cleaner, with lower levels of NOx and particulates” compared to current diesel London taxis. In 2015, Nissan will also launch a zero emission electric version of the NV200 Taxi for London.

The Nissan NV200 Taxi for London will be sold exclusively by franchised dealer group Glyn Hopkin from a purpose-built showroom in Canary Wharf.

By Dan Mihalascu

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