The London look for Toyota’s cab of the future

It’s tall, black as Newgate’s Knocker and can probably turn on half a yen in the middle of a rush-hour snarl-up in Nagoya. What are we talking about you may ask. It’s Toyota’s vision for a new generation of Japanese taxis. In terms of basic appearance the taxi looks like something that might be flagged down in Shoreditch rather than Shinjuku. The new JPN Taxi Concept was the first off the rank at the Tokyo motor show on 20th November, where it made its debut appearance. Although there’s no “for hire” sign yet shining on the blue display panel above the windscreen, it’s been conceived by Toyota in line with the Japanese government’s programme for designing buses and taxis that are more user-friendly.

The vehicle’s proportions and packaging have been tailored to give it the manoeuvrability that’s essential in urban traffic, and to make access easy for passengers, especially children and older people, with a high cabin, low floor and electric sliding door. It also comes with a new powertrain, an LPG hybrid system that offers better environmental performance around town. The cab seats five and is equipped with a large interior monitor showing passenger information including the route to the destination and the fare.