• Store
  • Design Jobs
  • Firms
  • Awards
  • Conference
e

Core77

Sign In / Join Now;
e
  • Topics
    • Product Design
    • Process
    • Technology
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • News
    • Furniture
    • Tools
    • Transportation
    • Education
    • Footwear
    • Impact
    • Reference
    • Video
  • Features
    • Features
    • Yo! C77 Sketch
    • Photo Galleries
    • Bizarre Inventions
    • Design Calendar
    • Weekly Maker's Roundup
    • DiResta's Cut
    • Industrial Design Tips
    • Hand Tool School
    • Tools & Craft
    • Design Experience that Matters
  • Shopping Guide
  • Projects
    • Projects
    • Firm Projects
    • Reader Projects
  • Forums
    • Forums
    • General Discussion
    • Students & Schools
    • Design Employment
    • Sketching
    • Software & Technology
    • All Forums
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • About
    • Contact
    • Advertise

With London Win, Nissan Hopes They Can 'Hack' It in Several World Cities

By Rain Noe - Jan 07, 2014

  • Join Core77 Today
  • Submit your projects for publication
  • }Favorite This
  • Y1
  • m1
  • U1
  • [1
  • X1
  • H1
  • 4 Comments
Core77 Designer Shopping Guide Core77 Designer Shopping Guide

A globetrotting Japanese expat once told me he believed there was a Japanese expat pecking order. "The coolest kids move to London," he explained, "the second coolest, to New York. The third coolest move to L.A." (This last one delivered with an undertone of scorn.)

If his theorem can also be applied to Japanese automobiles, then Nissan is in pretty good shape. Their boxy NV200 won NYC's "Taxi of Tomorrow" competition (albeit amidst resistance) last year; now it's just won the "Taxi for London" title, and will begin rolling out there later this year.

Petrol version

Electric version

The London-specific NV200 has received what Nissan is calling a "redesign," but which we take to mean a cosmetic makeover:

Nissan's newly redesigned taxi has been developed for London, in London, by Nissan Design Europe (NDE) in Paddington, the same design center responsible for the Qashqai and Juke...
...The London version's design is bespoke, reflecting the rich heritage and status of London's black cabs. Among the specific changes that have been made to the front of the NV200 taxi are:
- Round headlamps and a re-modeled 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.

Here's a video look at what Londonites will be hailing come December:

That the NV200 will be gaining fleet status in both NYC and London is no accident; Nissan is making a concerted push towards official taxidom in several world cities, with Barcelona and Tokyo reportedly next in the crosshairs.

The latest design news, jobs & events.
Straight to you every other week.

Join over 300,000 designers who stay up-to-date with the Core77 newsletter...

Subscribe

Test it out; it only takes a single click to unsubscribe

  • }Favorite This
  • Y1
  • m1
  • U1
  • [1
  • X1
  • H1
  • Cars

Rain Noe

Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.

4 Comments

  • Kris Gebow
    4 years ago
    Z
    Z
    Reply
    In my opinion, Nissan is responsible for some of the ugliest vehicles that have ever been on the road. This taxi being one of the latest. The Juke, (or "rodent") is truly an eyesore. How do they get away with it?
    !Report as spam
  • Rukka
    4 years ago
    Z
    Z
    Reply
    It was sad when New York lost it's cabs with identity and cultural heritage, and now it's worse that's it's happening in London too (if only because I'll have to see it everyday). These two minivans (or should that be singular) represent the negative side of global homologous design with all the life and character being sucked out of the end result. As for reflecting heritage; PT Cruiser anyone?
    !Report as spam
  • Niall Harrington
    4 years ago
    Z
    Z
    Reply
    I liked the NV200, it has great features and will go well in any city. Nissan have identified how popular the vehicle is and have recognised it's potential in other cities. They have their base product, and they change it's facade to suit whichever particular market. In my opinion, the facade of the London model is lazy. It lacks the character of the current generation. Choosing three features and calling it a 'triangle' doesn't impress me, and it wont impress the locals either. I still applaud Nissan for this step though, and I look forward to what the NV200s of Barcelona and Tokyo will look like.
    !Report as spam
  • Marc Sicard
    4 years ago
    Z
    Z
    Reply
    This is sadly ugly ... the "redesign" of the front is unelegant, do not match the poor design of the sides, converting this vehicle into one of the most ridiculous and failed attempt at neo retro, and I can see no Londoner being proud of this garbage.
    !Report as spam

Core77's Design Directory

View all Design Firms »

Core77 Adlets

Advertise Here

Recent Posts

  • This Brilliant Japanese Labor-Saving Device Makes Farming WAY Easier

    By Rain Noe - 2 days ago

  • Bondo Basics for Designers and Modelmakers, Part 2

    By Rain Noe - 2 days ago

  • Taking Your Business Seriously Without Taking Yourself Too Seriously 

    By Core Jr - 3 days ago

  • Second Company Develops Sustainable Mushroom-Grown Leather, Will Debut it This Saturday

    By Rain Noe - 3 days ago

Continued Reading
  • Transportation

    By Rain Noe - Jan 06, 2014

    Easton Chang, Exotic Car Photographer: Best Job in the World?

    Remember our Car Studio Photography Set-Ups entry? That gave you a pretty good look at the insane amount of equipment required to shoot automobiles. But of course it didn't cover every possible situation; most of the earlier set-ups we saw were all about diffusing the overhead light, like this:Australia-based Easton...

  • Transportation
    3 Comments

    By Rain Noe - Jan 02, 2014

    Fantastically Nonsensical Video of Honda's Awesome, Utilitarian N Box + Kei Car

    Talk about doing more with less. Honda's boxy little contribution to the tiny kei car category is the N Box +, which has at least four awesome design features: A telescoping load ramp, an internal power winch, hideaway trunk shelving, and the ability for the entire interior to flatten into...

  • Technology
    4 Comments

    By Rain Noe - Dec 19, 2013

    McLaren to Replace Windshield Wipers with Electronic Force Fields

    Soon to be obsolete?Soon to be obsolete?Whether you drive a Ferrari or a Fiesta, your car has windshield wipers. And they operate on the same principle as they have for over a hundred years: A piece of rubber on an arm is dragged across glass to squeegee it clean. British...

  • Transportation
    4 Comments

    By Rain Noe - Dec 16, 2013

    Volkswagen Do Brasil Says 'Adeus' to the Magic Bus

    When I read that production on Volkswagen's iconic "magic bus" is about to cease, I thought the same thing as you: They still make the magic bus?Well, they do in the land of bossa nova. The Type 2, as it's officially called (the Beetle being VW's Type 1) has been...

K

{

Welcome

  • YSign In with Facebook
  • mSign In with Twitter
  • USign In with Linkedin
OR
  • jSign In with Core77 Account
  1. Forgot password?
  • Cancel

Don't have an account? Join Now

K

{

Welcome

Create a Core77 Account

  • YJoin Now with Facebook
  • mJoin Now with Twitter
  • UJoin Now with Linkedin
OR
  • jJoin Now with Email
  • Cancel

Already have an account? Sign In

By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use

K

Reset Password

Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.

  • Cancel
Today On the Core77 Network...
  • ]Design Jobs

    • Full Stack UXer

      LearnCore Chicago, Illinois
    • Creative Director

      Chicago Display Marketing River Grove, Illinois
    • Engineering Project Manager, Soft Goods - 113593435

      Apple, Inc. Cupertino, California
    • Industrial Designer

      Bould Design San Mateo, California
    • Post A Job
    • View All Jobs
  • ]Design Directory

    View other design services:

    • _Hand-Eye Supply

      • Trusco 2-Level Cantilever Tool Box

        $65
      • Kaweco Highlighter Color Leads 5.5x80mm 3 pack

        $7
      • Hand-Eye Supply 6 PC Screwdriver Set

        $50
    • *Coroflot Portfolios

      • Coros Omni Helmet

        Dave Windham
      • Hexa, the first ever smart air filtration mask

        Kip Nordby
    • © 2018 Core77, Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Y
    • m
    • '
    • X
    • S
    • © 2018 Core77, Inc. All rights reserved.
    Advertise Here