London Taxis North America, Inc. (LTNA), is bringing the famous ‘black cab’ to the US and is already holding orders for 125 vehicles from buyers in Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles and the New York area, The Car Connection (TCC) website reported.
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TCC said the cabs, with Ford diesel engines, have been ‘Federalized’ for safety and emissions and will also be available for sale to individuals with first deliveries next month.
While UK cabbies are offered Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of trim, US buyers, according to TCC, get either the “Civilized Taxi”, designed for the commercial taxi market or the “London Executive Sedan”, designed for the private livery market.
TCC said the 125 London Taxis ordered so far will go to taxi and livery companies, as well as resorts, real estate companies and private buyers.
The Car Connection’s feature list suggests all the attributes that endear the London cab to British cabbies have made it across the Atlantic: a Ford-produced 2.4 litre turbo diesel engine which averages 24 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway; bolt-on, bolt-off exterior steel panels; an incomparable 25 ft. turning radius; comfortable seating for five adults [two on fold-down, rear-facing jump seats], with more leg room than that of a first-class airline seat in the main row; a built-in child safety/booster seat; independent passenger rear heating and air conditioning systems; wheelchair accessibility and a driver-to-passenger intercom system.
