TX4

The TX4 is a purpose-built taxicab (hackney carriage) manufactured by The London Taxi Company, a subsidiary of Geely Automobile of China.[4] From 2007 until their liquidation in 2013 it was manufactured by LTI. It is the latest in a long line of purpose-built taxis produced by The London Taxi Company and various predecessor entities. The design has evolved via several mutations from the Austin FX3 of the 1950s. TX4's immediate predecessor is the TXII.

TX4
Overview
Manufacturer
Also calledEnglon TX4 (China)
Asia Cab TX4 (ASEAN)
Production2007–2017
2009–2019 (China)
2019–present (Thailand)
AssemblyCoventry, United Kingdom (Ansty Park plant)
Shanghai, China (Geely)
Bangkok, Thailand (Asia Cab[1])
Body and chassis
Body style5-door wagon
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine2.4 L 4G69 I4 (petrol) (China)
2.5 L VM Motori R 425 I4 (turbo diesel)
Transmission5-speed Eaton FSO 2405 A manual
5-speed Chrysler 545RFE automatic
6 speed tiptronic automatic (China)
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,886 millimetres (113.6 in)
Length4,580 millimetres (180 in)
4,566 millimetres (179.8 in) (Englon TX4)
Width2,036 millimetres (80.2 in) (incl. mirrors)
1,783 millimetres (70.2 in) (Englon TX4)
Height1,834 millimetres (72.2 in)
1,823 millimetres (71.8 in) (Englon TX4)
Curb weight1,975 kg (4,354 lb)[2][3]
1,880–1,940 kg (4,145–4,277 lb) (Englon TX4)
Chronology
PredecessorTXII
SuccessorLEVC TX (UK and China)

Design
TX4 SMRT taxicab in Singapore

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 (rated at a peak 75 kW or 101 hp at 4,000 rpm and 240 N⋅m or 180 lbf⋅ft of torque at 1,800 rpm) mated to a Chrysler 545RFE five-speed automatic transmission. An Eaton FSO 2405 A five-speed manual transmission is also available.[3][5]

In markets outside the UK the TX4 is also available with a 2.4 Mitsubishi 4G69 four-cylinder petrol engine, rated at 112 kW (150 hp) at 5,500 rpm and 212 N⋅m (156 lbf⋅ft) at 4,000 rpm. The only gearbox available with this engine is a Mitsubishi-built five-speed manual.[2]

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.[3]

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.[6] The diesel engine was then later updated to be Euro 5 compliant. Currently latest version of the TX4 is now euro 6 compliant and fitted with 2.8 litre VM Motori engine. This will be the last version of the TX shape until the new shaped ZEC (zero emission capable) electric TX5 will take over estimated to be available at the tail end of 2017.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell London Taxis

London’s new fleet of five hydrogen fuel cell powered taxis provided by the HyTEC (Hydrogen Transport for European Cities) project have now driven 2500 miles 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.[7]

The current prototype (made with the help of Lotus Engineering) has a range of 250 miles (400 km) and top speed of over 80 mph (it recently achieved 95 mph at the Millbrook test track). 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.[8]

Chinese market
Englon SC7-RV
Englon TX4 (built by Geely)

In January 2007, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the LTI's shareholders approved a joint venture with Geely Automobile—called Shanghai LTI(SLTI)—to manufacture the TX4 in China. Production started in July 2008. In August 2010 Geely disclosed that Shanghai LTI began supplying SKD (semi-knocked-down) TX4 to the UK.[9] Geely sells the TX4 cab under their "Englon" brand (phonetically similar to "England"), but have also developed a new version called the TXN.[10] 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.[10]

TX4 Worldwide
SMRT Taxi London taxi TX4 Hackney carriage
London Taxi TX4 operating as 13LCAB (Black and White Cabs)

The TX4 taxi can be seen in service in Prishtina, Bahrain, Baku, Berlin, Cairo, Charleston (South Carolina), Hangzhou, Hudson (Massachusetts), Johannesburg, Las Vegas, Nanjing, Ottawa, Perth (Australia), Sydney (Australia), Riyadh, Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand) and Zhuhai[11]

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 (London Taxis and Private Hire)—required all models with a '56' registration plate to undergo safety checks otherwise drivers would lose their carriage licence.[12]

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.

Steering boxes

Manganese Bronze, the now troubled maker of London taxis was thrown into further turmoil after it announced plans to recall 400 black cabs and suspend sales, following discovery of a steering fault. Manganese reported the discovery of a defect with new steering boxes in its TX4 models, which had been introduced in February 2012 to vehicles produced at its Coventry factory. It warned that the recall and sales suspension would have a "material and detrimental" impact on its cashflow and said it was looking at options for the firm. The news came as the latest blow to the company, which had been hit by mounting losses and an accounting blunder that left it with a £4 million hole in its accounts. Manganese, which suspended trading of its shares earlier in the day, said it was working with Chinese partner Geely (already a 20% shareholder in the business) to fix the steering fault. But they said: "Until such time that a technical solution is developed to rectify the fault, the financial position of the group remains unclear and trading in the company's shares will remain suspended." The company had not reported any profits since 2008.

Administration and a new owner for the business

On 30 October 2012 Manganese Bronze Holdings went into administration,[13] and on 31 October 2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers, the administrators, shed 156 jobs at the Coventry head office and production line, and other jobs at various dealer outlets around the country including London. Production at the Coventry site resumed in September 2013,[14] ownership of the assets formerly owned by Manganese Bronze Holdings having now passed to a new company, The London Taxi Corporation, a subsidiary of Geely of China.[15]

Private users

In April 2009, Stephen Fry (who habitually drives a black cab) announced that he had acquired a TX4 for personal use.[16]

References
  1. "Geely Commercial Vehicles Enter Southeast Asia". 6 November 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  2. "TX4 Options & Specifications" (PDF). LTI Ltd. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  3. "The London Taxi: TX4 Euro 5" (PDF). LTI Ltd. February 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  4. "China's Geely saves London cab maker Manganese Bronze". The Telegraph. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  5. Joseph, Noah (19 October 2006). "Where to, gov'na? New TX4 London cabs introduced in Europe". AOL Inc. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  6. Good news travels fast! TX4, from TBF News, Spring 2007, Issue 07, page 13
  7. "HYTEC » Hydrogen fuel cell electric taxis drive Olympic VIPs 2,500 miles". hy-tec.eu.
  8. Sam Abuelsamid (7 June 2010). "Prepping for 2012 Summer Olympics, fuel cell-powered London taxi prototype unveiled". Autoblog.
  9. "Shanghai LTI Starts Supplying SKD TX4 to the UK". ChinaAutoWeb.com.
  10. "Geely Englon SC7-RV Concept, TX4 Made Youthful: Auto Shanghai in Pictures". ChinaAutoWeb.com. 25 April 2011.
  11. "London cabs headed for Ottawa". trucknews.com. Business Information Group. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  12. "Fires force black cabs off roads". BBC News Online. 17 September 2008.
  13. http://www.manganese.com/pr/384
  14. Production Restart 11 September 2013: OFFICIAL VIDEO. YouTube. 24 September 2013.
  15. "Coventry taxi maker LTI sold to Chinese firm Geely for £11.4m". BBC News. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  16. Fry, Stephen (20 April 2009). "Picked myself out a very fine black TX4..." Twitter.
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