London “Black Cabs” Make Italian Debut

If you ever travel to Milan, Italy –which we sincerely hope you do at some point in your life, don’t freak out if you happen to stumble upon the TX4, or as it’s most commonly known, the London cab. LTI Vehicles, which manufactures the famous taxis, received an order from an Italian company for a dozen or so TX4’s. We don’t know about you, but we find the London cab’s appearance as hideous to say the least. Damn, this thing can even make a bright yellow Lancia Thesis taxi look sleek. -Press release after the jump

FASHION CAPITAL OF ITALY SAYS ‘BIENVENUTO’ TO BRITISH STYLE ICON

Distinctive London black cabs set to turn heads in Milan

La Dolce Vita awaits a dozen London cabs being shipped out to the Italian city of Milan.

LTI Vehicles, which manufactures the famous taxis, received the order from an Italian firm keen to join the growing number of countries that have fallen in love with the latest model, the TX4.

The latest incarnation of the iconic vehicle retains the distinctive styling of its predecessors but features a host of refinements and a greener, Euro IV-compliant engine.

Nigel Walters, Overseas Operations Coordinator for LTI Vehicles, said: “The TX4 has an Italian engine so we have had a lot of interest from Italy.

“It is a unique vehicle, in both shape and purpose. Everyone recognises it and it has always attracted a lot of interest.

“I was at a motor show in Bologna and it attracted a lot of attention from both the Italians and the foreign journalists.

“Hopefully this is the first of many batches to Italy and we hope this develops into a long-term and fruitful partnership.”

The vehicles have all been painted white because it is the official colour of taxis in Italy and are being sold through Milan’s Lamborghini dealership.

So far the TX4 has been exported to a host of countries including Abu Dhabi, China, Trinidad and Tobago, the Philippines and Hungary.

The new TX4 is an evolution of past generations of LTI’ Vehicles’ famous London style black cabs, gained over almost 60 years of experience. The new vehicle, which was launched in October 2006, has a wealth of advancements, making it the most socially-inclusive and advanced purpose-built taxi in the world.

To find out more about the TX4 and Coventry-based LTI Vehicles, log-on to www.lti.co.uk