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Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi

New Euro 6 Mercedes Vito Taxi hits London streets

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The latest version of the Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi has gone on sale in London today, after passing all the necessary tests required for it to qualify as a London black cab.

Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi

The new Mercedes Vito Taxi

The previous model sold more than 3,000 units since 2008, which suggests that the German model may now account for up to one in seven of the black cabs in the capital.

The London edition of the new Euro 6 Vito Taxi uses the low-emission 114CDI Euro 6 engine, offering 136 hp. Power is transmitted to the wheels via Merc’s 7G-TRONIC PLUS seven-speed automatic gearbox, which is controlled by a steering column-mounted lever rather than the usual dashboard gearstick.

This London-specific model comes with a Compact body length and incorporates a rear steering axle that allows it to meet the famous 25ft turning circle rule as prescribed by the Public Carriage Office so it can execute a U-turn in London’s congested streets.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, commented:

“We know that the London taxi fraternity has been waiting in anticipation for us to bring the new Vito Taxi to market – our previous cab took the industry by storm and has sold in excess of 3,000 units since its launch in 2008.

“After a significant period of testing, I’m delighted to be announcing the start of sales today – I know there has been a bit of a waiting period while we put the new Taxi through its paces and I thank London’s cabbies for their patience.

Standard equipment also includes fuel-saving BlueEFFICIENCY measures like the engine Start/Stop function, air conditioning for the driver and passengers, electric folding mirrors, electrically operated sliding doors on both sides and an electrical nearside and off-side step.

The new Vito Taxi comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty and MobiloVan back-up, which includes free, round-the-clock emergency roadside assistance. It will be supplied exclusively by Mercedes-Benz Dealer S & B Commercials at Welham Green, Hertfordshire. Visit www.mbvitotaxi.co.uk for more information.

Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi

Mercedes-Benz launches new Euro 6 Vito Taxi

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It’s been described as “more like a luxury car than a van“ by one taxi firm and “impressively reliable and robust” by another (whose last Vito did 250,000 miles in three years). It’s probably fair to say that the Vito minibus is popular with both drivers and operators.

So it’s no surprise that the purpose-built Vito Taxi, which is targeting the hackney cab market, is gaining a firm foothold in the market.

Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi

The original Vito Taxi was launched in 2008 and has sold 3,000 units to date, some of them into the ultra-conservative and demanding London black cab market. To put that in context, there are currently around 21,000 black cabs in London, so while the Vito Taxi still has a way to go, it is making progress.

The German marque has now launched an updated version of the Vito Taxi. The standard National specification model seats six and is fully accessible for wheelchairs. Customers can choose from the front wheel-drive 109CDI model, with an 88 hp Euro 6 engine, or the 114CDI with a 114 hp Euro 6 engine, which drives the rear wheels. Both come with manual gearboxes (optional seven-speed automatic gearbox is available for the 114CDI models) and in Compact or Long body lengths.

This model will be sold UK-wide and isn’t the special London specification model, an updated version of which will become available later in 2016. The London-spec Vito Taxi incorporates the rear steering axle that allows it to achieve a 25ft turning circle. This is one of the rules prescribed by the Public Carriage Office, so it can execute a U-turn in London’s congested streets.

The London variant is also offered with the more powerful engine as standard together, with the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox, which is now controlled using a steering column-mounted lever.

Standard equipment on both versions includes the fuel-saving BlueEFFICIENCY measures which features engine Start/Stop function for the 114CDI models, air conditioning for driver and passengers, electric folding mirrors, electrically operated sliding doors on both sides and electrical nearside step; London versions feature an additional off-side step.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, commented:

“We are passionate about supporting the UK’s taxi drivers, and are delighted to be offering the most fuel-efficient, modern, comfortable, reliable vehicle ever seen in the market.

Priced from £135 per week* for the Vito Taxi 109CDI National variant, the Vito Taxi comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty and MobiloVan back-up, which includes free, round-the-clock emergency roadside assistance. Pricing for the London variant is still to be announced.

*Business customers only

Van-based Vito Taxi offers big advantages over traditional black cab

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Mercedes-Benz Vito London Taxi

London cabbie Mike Fleischmann has just taken delivery of his second Vito Taxi

The van-based Mercedes-Benz Vito Tax is gaining a growing following amongst the demanding ranks of London’s black cab drivers, thanks to the superior mix of comfort, space, sophistication and fuel consumption it offers in comparison to the classic but dated black cab.

Thanks to its innovative turning rear axle the Vito Taxi conforms to Transport for London Conditions of Fitness and can seat six adults, one more than its traditional competitor.

Standard technical equipment includes the Adaptive ESP stability programme, Parktronic with visual and audible aids, and Speedtronic with cruise control and variable speed limiter.

Mike Fleischmann, who has been driving London cabs for 31 years, is a convinced advocate of the Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi:

“It’s a ‘chalk and cheese’ comparison,” he enthused. “The Vito is a wonderful, premium quality vehicle and passengers invariably appreciate its comfort and extra space.

“From the cabbie’s point of view, meanwhile, its extra sophistication gives rise to a smoother, more relaxed driving style than you’d employ in an ordinary taxi – no-one drives like a lunatic in a Vito Taxi.

“The fuel consumption is definitely better too, while the after sales back-up is unbelievable; in the event that you’re unlucky enough to suffer a breakdown you make one call and someone comes along to sort you out. Fantastic!”

Vito Taxi owners also benefit from a comprehensive three-year/150,000 mile warranty, service intervals of up to 24,000 miles and free Service24h emergency roadside assistance as standard.

Nissan Launches Facelifted NV200 London Taxi Conversion

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Nissan NV200 London TaxiNissan’s plans to launch a London tax model based on its NV200 van (or ‘multi-purpose platform’, to use the company’s preferred description) are no secret. The company first showcased a working model back in August 2012, but things have changed a bit since then.

According to Nissan, it received feedback from the London Mayor’s office and Transport for London which sent the firm’s designers scurrying back to their drawing boards to change the way the taxi looks.

Designers at Nissan’s European design centre in Paddington have drawn on styling cues from the current TX1 cab in an effort to persuade passengers and cabbies that their vehicle belongs on London’s streets. Although the NV200 taxi is also destined for use in Barcelona, New York and Tokyo, the firm will produce a London-specific version in an effort to provide the required look.

Among the specific changes that have been made to the front of the NV200 taxi are:

  • Round headlamps and a re-modelled grille mirroring the traditional black cab ‘face’
  • LED lighting to improve visibility of the traditional taxi sign
  • Completely new front bumper panels

Design Excellence Manager at NDE, Darryl Scriven, said:

“Having already overcome the unique technical challenges presented by the development of a new Hackney Carriage for London ahead of our launch of the vehicle in August 2012, we turned our attention to making the vehicle look the part.

“The Mayor’s office and taxi drivers were very keen that we maintain the character of the Hackney Carriage, making it something that people in the city can be proud of.

“The main challenges were concerned with making sure customers can easily recognise it as a taxi. Being in London, we were able to go out and talk to cabbies about what was important to them as well as look at the vehicle from a customer’s viewpoint. It’s unusual for us to be able to work on something as bespoke as this, specifically for one location in the world and we are very proud to have been asked to do so.”

Nissan intends to put the NV200 Taxi for London on sale in the Capital in December 2014, followed by an all-electric version, the e-NV200, in 2015. From launch, the new taxi will be available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine equipped with an automatic gearbox. Compared to current diesel London taxis, this engine will be far cleaner, with lower levels of NOx and particulates.