Addison Lee drivers told to defy bus lane law (and to just say SMIDSY)

Because London will lose a little bit more of its character and identity when there are no more proper London taxis, just as it did when the Routemasters went from regular service, and just as NYC did when the Checkers got replaced by regular tin. LTI recognised this, which is why the TX4 went back to looking more like the FX4 after the TX1 moved away from that style.

A company that fits a few electrical and mechanical components is a world away from the skilled business of manufacturing an entire vehicle from scratch. LTI are a strong monopoly because nobody chooses to build a competing cab. Reliant did with the Metrocab for years, but since then nobody does. You could easily improve upon the TX4, but tweaking a van is not the way to do it.

Years ago there was a proposal to licence the Nissan Prairie as a London cab. Jeremy Clarkson, back when he was an actual journalist, memorably complained about it with the words "When, as a small boy, I first went in a London taxi I was so excited I almost wet myself. When, as an adult I first went in a Nissan Prairie I was nearly sick."

I like the idea and look of black cabs, but I don't think the design is quite there with the new ones. Sort of looks bloated version of the original, reminds me of this:

...then they're not great when it comes to air quality, noise (inside or out), the interior is pretty ropey and bus-like...