Description
The TX4 is a purpose-built taxi (hackney carriage) manufactured by The London Taxi Company, a subsidiary of Geely Automobile of China. 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 predecessors. The design has evolved through several mutations from the Austin FX3 of the 1950s. The TX4's immediate predecessor is the TXII.
The TX4 features a new front grille, updated interior design, updated front and rear bumpers and a different rear license plate surround compared to the TXII. There are now internal head restraints due to EU safety regulations. On earlier models there were two headrests mounted on the central partition in front of the rear-facing folding seats, but on later models these were removed because drivers complained about them and found them inconvenient for visibility reasons.
The only engine offered in the UK is a 2,5 liter VM Motori R 425 DOHC diesel engine (delivering peak power of 75 kW or 101 hp at 4.000 rpm and torque of 240 N⋅m or 180 lbf⋅ft 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.
In markets outside the UK, the TX4 is also available with a 2.4 Mitsubishi 4G69 four-cylinder petrol engine, good for 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-made five-speed manual.
As with its predecessors, the TX4 is built on a fully boxed hydroformed ladder frame with a separate bodywork. The front suspension, like 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 there was no TX3 and the brand number went straight to 4 is because the engine was Euro 4 compliant, and also to allow 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 equipped with a 2.8 liter VM Motori engine. This is the final version of the TX form as the newly formed ZEC (zero emission capable) electric TX5 will take over at the end of 2017.
