As the descendant of a long line of iconic
London taxis, the TX4’s identity is inexorably tied to Britain’s capital,
having served commuters there for the better part of a decade. But now, the
defunct black cab is getting a new lease of life, a new stamp on its passport
and a new home in the Land of Smiles.
That’s because Geely Commercial Vehicles
(GCV), which owns the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) that previously
built the TX4 as the London Taxi Company (and currently builds the new TX that
has replaced it), is bringing it to Thailand as its first offering in Southeast
Asia. Assembled by Asia Cab, the TX4 is the first in what is set to be a full
range of commercial vehicles to be sold in the region.
Maintaining its 2,883 mm wheelbase and
tall 1,823 mm height, the TX4 retains the bulbous design that has made it a
recognisable part of London’s landscape, as well as its unique 1+2+3 seating
configuration. However, it ditches its 2.5 litre VM Motori diesel engine in
favour of a “modern” petrol mill, although GCV hasn’t released any specifics as
yet. Chinese-built models use a 2.4 litre Mitsubishi petrol unit.
This, of course, isn’t the first time the
TX4 has made an appearance in the region – it was also sold in Singapore, back
when it was made by LEVC’s predecessor London Taxis International (LTI). That
company was liquidated in 2013 and sold to Geely. The TX4 has also seen service
in continental Europe, Australia and the Middle East as well as major Chinese
cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Guangzhou.
