Vote Now: Black cab replacement

Utter madness if actually true that Boris wants the ol trad-looking black cabs off London's streets. Especially so given that he backed the renewal of the old Routemaster London bus with the new, bang up-to-date modern version on which it is closely modelled. Exactly the same should be done with the black cab which is a global icon for London! Simply invite designs - based closely on the original shape - from all manufacturers and stipulate it having to include things like hybrid/electric capacity, 50+mpg, full glass panoramic roof, minimum 4-seater, etc.
Come on Boris, don't be daft son.

By sirsidneyruffdiamond on 19 May, 2011, 5:21pm

Hang on a second! Where's the LTI Choice

What about those of us who want to maintain the iconic shape of London's taxis? Please add the LTI version so people can truly vote their choice.
And Here! Here! to the comment from @sirsidneyruffdiamond

By tyzer007 on 20 May, 2011, 8:20am

i dont know whats more outrageous that fact that nutty boris has suggested it or AE dont even list the iconic black cab as an alternative it may have escpaed your attention but there are 500 people in Coventry that produce this classic cab, but as usual we are prepared to promote brands that jepordise british jobs well done boris and autoexpress

By KINGJULIAN on 20 May, 2011, 9:31am

Options???

I second KINGJULIANs comments. All of the above options are horrid and an insult to the heritage of the cab and the city. Why not propose something built IN Britain? Of all the vehicles built in the UK, is there nothing suitable at all? (This coming from an Irish man). Vauxhall Meriva has doors that open the right way yet it looks modern and would take up less road space than the hulks AutoExpress suggests while also offering very economical and small capacity, up to the minute diesel engines. Ditto the Ford C-Max with it's sliding doors. But I don't know if either of those cars are built in the UK or not . Perhaps the workers in Coventry could continue to be employed refitting the interiors to work as cabs? Is it really necessary for the black cab to be replaced with a great lumbering hulk of a van with windows, able to accommodate so many people? Or on the other hand - by the pointless 2 seater VW UP! ? How often do black cabs ferry large groups of people around? How often are those occasional (jump) seats used? Why suggest the bloody VW UP! when either the C-Max or Meriva are so much more practical? Why doesn't AutoExpress conduct a STUDY of the actual use and users of the Black Cab and offer a proposal on what the replacement should be, rather than offering this populist, mindless, lazy poll instead? Utter drivel.

By pdmccmdp on 20 May, 2011, 10:55am

Retro-Futuristic LTI?

I also second sirsidneyruffdiamond and tyzer007's comments also. The ideal proposal would be a retro-futuristic cab that captures the character and charm of the original black cab with bank up to date mechanicals, diesel/hybrid/electric/hydrogen power and suitable interior accommodation. Surely this is not beyond the abilities of the UK car industry or even LTI themselves? Suitable mechanicals and engines can easily be bought in from elsewhere and a modified body fitted! To me it's unacceptable to paint a Nissan van with windows black and call it the new London cab.

By pdmccmdp on 20 May, 2011, 11:00am

Inconsistency from Boris?.....surely not!!!!

Like any politician, of any party, Boris Johnson will make these statements, knowing full well that in 15 years time, he'll be long gone and the fact that black cabs, smokey or not, are still on the road can't be held against him. As for NY's yellow taxis, well they've had different types of cab for years, so the new Nissan is just the latest. I've never found black cabs particularly comfortable, so any new model that's more of a pleasure to use would get my vote. Iconic they may be, but something bigger is needed and by that I don't mean those awful stretch limos which look like a badly done cut-and-shut.

By n50pap on 20 May, 2011, 11:51am

Wheelchairs and turning circle.

Wheelchair access and the 25 foot turning circle are both legal requirements and as such the only option is the Vito.

By johnny1962 on 20 May, 2011, 2:22pm

FCH 2012

The premise of the article is that TX4 taxicabs are not clean enough, so it is ironic that the photo used is of A TX4 fuel cell taxi as underlined by the reg FCH 2012. Come on guys do your research.

By johnny1962 on 21 May, 2011, 3:49pm

And how are you going to pay for it?

Before all you misty-eyed traditionalists get too far into your nostalgia-fest, how on earth are you going to pay for a black cab lookalike? In car terms, they sell in very small numbers and unlike the routemaster, they are usually bought and paid for by their cabbies! How on earth are you going to develop and build small numbers of something that looks like traditional a black cab without it just BEING another black cab?! They're as bad as they are for a reason...

By molebag on 24 May, 2011, 8:03am

Agree with the back a British solution. Why when this most British of vehicles has just been considered by Paris ( how protective are the French?) we are all debating which foreign vehicle would be a better choice Get real at least the new "routemaster" is a UK design.

Choose something from LTI or give them some funding to green up the current model. Then see if we can't sell it or license it for sale

By sherbo1959 on 24 May, 2011, 8:30am

British?

Are any of the proposed alternatives built in the UK by British companies? I think we should try building our own taxi

By yellowbear on 24 May, 2011, 10:57am

Whats wrong with the black cab?

Been in countless black cabs and I can't say I ever thought there was anything wrong with them. Noisy, rattly and uncomfortable? In who's opinion? If its the smokeyness thats the problem, then why not just put in a more fuel efficient engine? Certainly none of these suggestions would be worthy of a black cab replacement.

By chrome500 on 24 May, 2011, 11:06am

Why not? What's so good about the traditional "black cab" anyway? They're thirstier and dirtier than the alternatives for a start, and I very much doubt they're as safe.

By molebag on 24 May, 2011, 12:43pm

Against Age Ban

Banning vehicles over fifteen years of age (or any particular age) unfairly penalizes those who properly maintain and service their vehicle. It would be much more effective to establish standards which must be met in order for the vehicle to continue in service. A well maintained (interior, exterior, and mechanicals) is a beautiful sight and should be encouraged. A two year old vehicle which cannot meet standards should be off the road until and unless it can be brought up to standards. Keep the standards high and allow the operator to determine when, or if, the vehicle is to be replaced.

By Milthill on 24 May, 2011, 1:13pm

What about the Fiat DOBLO ? Admitdedly a poor turning circle ,but up to 7 seats ,a high roof version good economy sliding rear doors , for ease of acsess ,I COULD GO ON .

By matpdon on 24 May, 2011, 4:13pm

New Geely

Am I alone in my thinking? But I actually like the look of the new Geely Englon, it's rather well styled, and for a Chinese car that comes as quite a shock!

By JFalck on 24 May, 2011, 7:21pm

Geely Englon - there's not even a funny anagram of it!

Yes, JFalck, I suspect you are alone.

By FloatingVoter on 24 May, 2011, 7:45pm

As already stated: an open competition to send in proposals for a brand new design with retro references....it's just too iconic and 'British' to just get rid of them! And build them here to protect those jobs too!

By Lostash on 24 May, 2011, 8:47pm

There's no need to dramatically alter the iconic shape. Surely, the real problem is that the Coventry manufacturer has dismally failed to keep up to date with modern standards of efficiency. Further, why should a modern diesel emit visible smoke? Mostly down to the operators failing to maintain their working tools.

By Clive58 on 24 May, 2011, 9:35pm

All diesels emit smoke - it's just how they work. The more modern Euro 5 diesels tend to have particulate filters to trap the tiny particles of soot and burn them off but the black cabs don't have that technology yet. Cars are so sophisticated these days that small companies just can't sell enough units to keep pace the the immense R&D costs involved. As it is LTI don't make their own engine even now. I think the best chance would be for a highly specialist UK company to "add value" to an existing mass-produced vehicle where all the essential vehicle systems (ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Particulate filters, Airbags etc) are already developed and then just fit the "niche" stuff essential for taxi work (like the wheelchair access systems, fare meters, 2-way radios and so on.

By molebag on 24 May, 2011, 9:43pm

All diesels emit smoke - it's just how they work. The more modern Euro 5 diesels tend to have particulate filters to trap the tiny particles of soot and burn them off but the black cabs don't have that technology yet. Cars are so sophisticated these days that small companies just can't sell enough units to keep pace the the immense R&D costs involved. As it is LTI don't make their own engine even now. I think the best chance would be for a highly specialist UK company to "add value" to an existing mass-produced vehicle where all the essential vehicle systems (ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Particulate filters, Airbags etc) are already developed and then just fit the "niche" stuff essential for taxi work (like the wheelchair access systems, fare meters, 2-way radios and so on.

By molebag on 24 May, 2011, 10:12pm

User Chooser

Surely this isn't about picking one thing to replace another? Any normal market gives you a choice of products - some people like one, some another and competition keeps greedy suppliers on their toes! Personally I'm all for having a choice of modern, comfortable cabs but that doesn't mean my buddy Joe can't keep buying Rusty 4s if that what he prefers.

By Davejohns14 on 25 May, 2011, 11:41am

Big Brother give us a Break!

Fed up with TX, need something else with beter fuel consumption but not at £40 grand plus for your Merc. Peugeot sounds fine to me, saw loads when I was up at my bro's in Leicester and they like them. SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM ANYWAY???!!! Why can't I buy the cab I want? Why should city hall fat cats whove neva driven a cab in thier life tell me what to do with my hard earned dough?

By CabKing on 25 May, 2011, 11:58am

Boris Give us a Break

Totally agree with CabKing. How would Boris like us cabbies telling him what motor he has to drive (err . . . make that be driven) about in?!! Let me see, I can have a 1950s design LTI or a mega-bucks Merc, right? So Boris, I want to see you lording it in a Fiat Punto or maybe you'd prefer a tuck-tuck (scuse my language)??? Just let us cabbies choose the best cab out there and we'll all be better off.

By Gunner4eva on 25 May, 2011, 12:46pm

I agree. Maybe someone ought to ask Boris why they still need a 25' turning circle?! Now that they don't have horses on the front, it's not such an issue any more LOL! London can't be the only city in the world with congested streets but they all seem to manage! Didn't Liverpool recently kick out the London taxi regs? At least they'll be able to get a better choice of vehicle now.

By molebag on 25 May, 2011, 1:04pm

I work in a Spanish school and we are planning a trip to the UK next summer for the kids. On the trip to London, they want to do and see three things in particular: ride the tube, a red double-decker and a black cab. Disappointment all round, I suspect (tube strike guaranteed). London has history and if that is removed it becomes just a great big Slough.

By PedroConejo on 25 May, 2011, 6:04pm

Ok, maybe I was drunk

With sober eyes that Geely thing, well, all i can say is beer goggles...

By JFalck on 29 May, 2011, 11:12pm

CarMan

Peugeot E7

Proven. Good value. Low emissions. Wheelchair friendly and converted in the UK. Disappointing that so many respondents seem to ignore commercial and environmental realities.

By carman on 30 May, 2011, 8:47pm

Lotus builds hydrogen fuel cell taxi for London 2012....

Diesels will be out of fashion soon anyway and replaced by the Electric motor ....

By liverpool on 30 June, 2011, 10:40pm