TX4
The TX4 is a purpose-built taxicab manufactured and produced by The London Taxi Company from 2007 to 2017. In 2013, The London Taxi Company became a subsidiary of Geely Automobile of China. The design has evolved via several mutations from the Austin FX3 of the 1950s.
Design
The TX4 features a new front radiator grille, an updated interior design, updated front and rear bumpers, and a different rear vehicle registration number plate surround compared to the TXII. There are now internal headrests as a result of EU safety regulations. On the earlier models there were two headrests fitted to the central partition for the rear-facing tip-up seats, but on the later models these were removed as drivers complained and found them awkward for vision reasons.The only engine offered in the UK is a 2.5-litre VM Motori R 425 DOHC diesel engine mated to a Chrysler 545RFE five-speed automatic transmission. An Eaton FSO 2405 A five-speed manual transmission is also available.
In markets outside the UK the TX4 is also available with a 2.4 Mitsubishi 4G69 four-cylinder petrol engine, rated at at 5,500 rpm and at 4,000 rpm. The only gearbox available with this engine is a Mitsubishi-built five-speed manual.
As was the case with its predecessors the TX4 is built on a fully boxed hydroformed ladder frame with a separate body.
The front suspension, as with its predecessors, is of the double wishbone type with coil springs and an anti-roll bar while the rear suspension uses a solid axle with coil springs and a Panhard rod.
Anecdotally the reason for there being no TX3 and the marque number going straight to 4 is because the engine was Euro 4 compliant, and also for the vehicle to have a connection with the famous Austin FX4. The diesel engine was then later updated to be Euro 5 compliant. Currently the latest version of the TX4 is now euro 6 compliant and fitted with 2.8 litre VM Motori engine. This was the last version of the TX shape until the new shaped ZEC electric LEVC TX entered production from 2017.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell London Taxis
London’s new fleet of five hydrogen fuel cell powered taxis provided by the HyTEC project have now driven in total, fuelled by the capital’s second hydrogen fuelling station at Heathrow airport.The first phase of the HyTEC project saw the pioneering fleet of fuel cell electric London Taxis, which were developed by the UK power technology company Intelligent Energy and The London Taxi Company, transport 40 visiting dignitaries and the VIP guests of the Greater London Authority during the Olympic and Paralympic period. High-profile individuals included Arnold Schwarzenegger and Barbara Windsor, with some VIPs undertaking more than one journey in the fuel cell electric taxis. Members of the GLA including Mayor Boris Johnson and Deputy Mayors Kit Malthouse, Munira Mirza and Sir Edward Lister also had the opportunity to ride in the cabs.
The current prototype has a range of and top speed of over . The hydrogen tank can supposedly be refilled in five minutes. Currently £5.5 million has been used to fund the project from the Technology Strategy Board.
Chinese market
In January 2007, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the LTI's shareholders approved a joint venture with Geely Automobile—called Shanghai LTI —to manufacture the TX4 in China. Production started in July 2008. In August 2010 Geely disclosed that Shanghai LTI began supplying SKD TX4 to the UK. Geely sells the TX4 cab under their "Englon" brand, but have also developed a new version called the TXN. The TXN, planned to go on sale in the future, has a more bulbous shape meant to be more youthful. A concept version called the Englon SC7-RV has also been shown in 2011; this is intended to be used as a private family saloon.TX4 Worldwide
The TX4 taxi can be seen in service in Belfast; Pristina; Bahrain; Baku; Berlin; Cairo; Charleston, South Carolina; Hangzhou; Hudson, Massachusetts; Johannesburg; Las Vegas; Nanjing; Ottawa; Perth; Sydney; Melbourne; Riyadh; Singapore; Bangkok; and Zhuhai.Recalls, engine failures, faults and problems
Fire issues
In September 2008, approximately fifteen engine fires in a period of three months forced a partial recall of the TX4. A limited number of vehicles were affected and the Public Carriage Office—now renamed LTPH —required all models with a '56' registration plate to undergo safety checks otherwise drivers would lose their carriage licence.The news of the fires hit the headlines after Big George, a presenter on BBC London 94.9, received photos of a taxi that burst into flames outside Stringfellows on Upper St. Martin's Lane on 12 September 2008.