Designers aren't easily impressed, but Klaus Bischoff, Head of Volkswagen Design, admits that his team counts the London black cab as the cleverest design around. It may be clever, but VW thinks it can provide some competition with its Taxi Concept, which it revealed in the heart of London today (December 14).

Taking up less of the road than VW's Fox, the Taxi Concept offers Passat levels of space inside. Even so it's limited to just two passengers and the driver, with the space beside the driver reserved for luggage. That alone would create difficulties with the taxi licensing authority, which demands five seats or more.

Strip away the black paint, taxi signage and London city crests on the doors and the Taxi Concept gives a good clue to VW's forthcoming Up! electric city car. Due in 2013, if it's specified similarly to the Taxi Concept then the 113bhp electric motor will be powered by a lithium-ion battery and have a range of 186 miles.

Top speed will be 74mph and an 80 percent recharge can be undertaken in around an hour - with the VW badge on the front hiding the charging point.

The London cab is the fourth of a quartet of Taxi Concepts revealed so far by Volkswagen - the others in Hong Kong, Milan and Berlin. New York will be the next city to see this concept; presumably in yellow with black checkers...

Kyle Fortune - 14 Dec 2010