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Photo of a LTI TX4

LTI TX4

Researched November 1, 2026 from 37 sources

Also called

  • Black cabA London taxi nickname that began with the FX3's launch in 1948.12

At a glance

0100200
100–150 hpPower
0150300
212–240 N·mTorque
01,0002,000
1,880–1,975 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.512

Engine
2.5 L VM turbodiesel; Euro 6 2.8 L VM diesel; China 2.4 L Mitsubishi petrol59
Layout
Front engine, rear-wheel drive; separate ladder frame5
Gearbox
2.5 diesel: 5-speed manual/automatic; export petrol: 5-speed manual5
Built at
Holyhead Road, Coventry, UK; Geely, Shanghai, China; Asia Cab, Bangkok, Thailand5

The story

Built for London's taxi trade, the 2.5-liter diesel automatic TX4 combined Euro IV compliance and ABS with five rear passenger seats, wheelchair restraints and a 25-foot turning circle.34

2008: TX4 production starts in China20082010: A fuel-cell TX4 targets London20102011: Euro 5 adds a particulate filter20112013: Nanjing's 500-cab program · Coventry restarts after Geely rescue20132015: Euro 6 brings a 2.8-liter diesel20152017: 300 numbered cabs mark the UK finale20172019: Asia Cab continues the TX4 in Thailand2019 Austin FX3 (FX3): 1948–1958FX3Austin FX4 / LTI Fairway (FX4): 1958–1997FX4LTI TX1 (TX1): 1997–2002TX1LTI TXII (TXII): 2002–2006LEVC TX: From 2017LEVC TX 19501960197019801990200020102020
Before and afterMilestones2521222324
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1948–1958Austin FX3 (FX3)
1958–1997Austin FX4 / LTI Fairway (FX4)
1997–2002LTI TX1 (TX1)
2002–2006LTI TXII (TXII)
From 2017LEVC TX
2008TX4 production starts in China
2010A fuel-cell TX4 targets London
2011Euro 5 adds a particulate filter
2013Nanjing's 500-cab program
2013Coventry restarts after Geely rescue
2015Euro 6 brings a 2.8-liter diesel
2017300 numbered cabs mark the UK finale
2019Asia Cab continues the TX4 in Thailand
  1. 2008

    TX4 production starts in China

    The Geely joint venture began TX4 production in China in July 2008; Shanghai LTI later supplied semi-knocked-down kits to the UK.5

  2. 2010

    A fuel-cell TX4 targets London

    Intelligent Energy, Lotus Engineering and LTI unveiled a fuel-cell TX4; a first London fleet was planned for 2012.6

  3. 2011

    Euro 5 adds a particulate filter

    Euro 5 TX4s were due in late 2011 ahead of January 2012 rules, adding a particulate filter, revised EGR and recalibration without a visual redesign.7

  4. 2013

    Nanjing's 500-cab program

    Geely announced 500 TX4s for Nanjing, with the first 50 launched on August 10. Passenger Wi-Fi was part of the package.1

  5. 2013

    Coventry restarts after Geely rescue

    After Geely's February takeover, TX4 production resumed in Coventry in September 2013, with Li Shufu and Vince Cable starting the line.8

  6. 2015

    Euro 6 brings a 2.8-liter diesel

    From September 1, a 2.8-liter VM diesel brought Euro 6 and a claimed two-thirds NOx cut; 2016 ratings were 222 g/km CO2 and 33.2 mpg combined.910

  7. 2017

    300 numbered cabs mark the UK finale

    UK production ended in 2017. The 300 numbered Limited Editions had Union Jack grille emblems; colors were Starlight Black, Nightsky Blue and Lunar Silver.511

  8. 2019

    Asia Cab continues the TX4 in Thailand

    Asia Cab continued TX4 production in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2019; the ASEAN version also used the TX4/CABB name.5

Every generation

  • Austin FX3
    FX31948–1958
  • Austin FX4 / LTI Fairway
    FX41958–1997
  • LTI TX1
    TX11997–2002
  • LTI TXII
    TXII2002–2006
  • LEVC TX
    LEVC TXFrom 2017

Power over the years

From 100 hp to 109 hp in 6 years.

050100150 20102012201420162018 hp 2011 · 100 hp · 2011 2.5 diesel automatic2014 · 101 hp · Australian Euro IV 2.5 diesel2017 · 109 hp · Kahn Edition 2.8 Euro 6 109 hp Kahn Edition 2.8 Euro 6 100 hp 2011 2.5 diesel automatic
121314
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
20111002011 2.5 diesel automatic
2014101Australian Euro IV 2.5 diesel
2017109Kahn Edition 2.8 Euro 6

Versions

9 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • 2.5 VM Motori diesel

    Standard

    2.5 VM Motori diesel

    101 hp
  • Bronze / Silver / Gold

    Standard

    Bronze / Silver / Gold

  • Standard

    Style

  • Standard

    Elegance

  • Standard

    2.4 Mitsubishi petrol

    150 hp

  • Limited

    Limited Edition

    2017

    300 built

  • Special

    Fuel Cell Black Cab prototype

    2010

  • Limited

    Kahn Last of Line Edition

    2017

    5 built

  • Special

    Clipper Cab TX4 prototypes

    2 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Round headlights and a bulbous side profile give the cab its retro outline.12
  • Compared with a TXII, the TX4 has a larger grille shaped more like the FX4's.19
  • Revised bumpers and a different rear license-plate surround separate it from the TXII.5

Year by year

  1. Early vs. later cars

    Early cars had two head restraints on the partition for the rear-facing jump seats; later cars lost them to improve the driver's view.5

  2. 2011–2012

    Euro IV and Euro 5 bodywork is identical; Ocean Blue and Spice Bronze became new paint choices.715

  3. 2017

    Limited Edition cars added a chrome Union Jack behind the grille and individual numbers on the trunk lid and dashboard.11

Don’t confuse it with

  • TX1 / TXII

    The TX4 has a larger grille; revised bumpers and the rear plate surround distinguish it from the TXII.51920

  • Photo of a LTI TX4
    TX4
    Photo of a MCW Metrocab
    MCW Metrocab

    MCW Metrocab

    Look for the Metrocab's boxier body; the TX4's side profile is bulbous and its headlights are rounded.1219

Against its rivals

  • Peugeot 807

    TX4 vs Peugeot 807

    Price new lower is better

    TX428,995 £
    Peugeot 80724,000 £
    4
  • Renault Espace

    TX4 vs Renault Espace

    Price new lower is better

    TX428,995 £
    Renault Espace31,800 £
    4

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 9 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “Eggsy's TX4 turns into a submarine”
    • “A downloadable TX4 for GTA 5”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 37 sources
  1. London Taxi TX4 Introduced in Nanjing prnewswire.co.uk
  2. History | Across The UK | London Electric Vehicle Company levcbreweryroad.com
  3. Driving London's iconic taxi in India | Autocar India autocarindia.com
  4. Taxi! All hail to the TX4... | The Independent | The Independent independent.co.uk
  5. TX4 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  6. Zero Emissions Fuel Cell Hybrid Taxi Unveiled at London’s City Hall - Interfax Newswire businesswirechina.com
  7. The London Taxi Company And Euro 5 — UK Export News ukexportnews.co.uk
  8. Geely Group Restarts Production of Iconic London Taxi prnewswire.co.uk
  9. The London Taxi Company confirms pricing for its cleanest TX4 ever - Torque news.cision.com
  10. Running cost of LTI Taxi - TX4 MPV sust-it.net
  11. LTC Launch Limited Edition TX4 planinsurance.co.uk
  12. London Taxi TX4 Test Drive Review motorbeam.com
  13. Geely TX4 'London Taxi' 2014 Review - carsales.com.au carsales.com.au
  14. 2017 London Taxi Company TX4 Kahn Edition For Sale by Auction themarket.co.uk
  15. PHTM February 2012 Issue 233 content.yudu.com
  16. Two London taxis go head-to-head with no expense spared ultra luxury Kahn design makeover taxi-point.co.uk
  17. Clipper Automotive Clipper Cab - E-Mobility Engineering emobility-engineering.com
  18. How do you make a black cab green? EV upgrades for the iconic London taxi | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  19. All Hail! The London Black Cab, a Transport Icon – The Beauty of Transport thebeautyoftransport.com
  20. THE TX4 TAXI: Hutley lists the FIVE things he misses from the iconic diesel black cab taxi-point.co.uk
  21. Austin FX3 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  22. Austin FX4 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  23. TX1 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  24. TXII - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  25. Buying a New Black Cab ~ What Are The Choices? - A2B Taxis Norwich a2btaxisnorwich.co.uk
  26. London Taxi TX4 - GTA5-Mods.com gta5-mods.com
  27. The london taxi LTC model TX4 in Kingsman : The golden circle | Spotern spotern.com
  28. Kingsman: The Golden Circle | Framestore framestore.com
  29. London Taxi International TX4 For Sale & Price Guide | TCV theclassicvaluer.com
  30. The Curious Case of London's Used Taxi Market: Why are old diesels still fetching a premium? taxi-point.co.uk
  31. Used London Taxis International TX4 Buying Guide and Recalls carpeep.co.uk
  32. Hackney Carriage licence for all TX4 taxis with a 56 registration suspended - Transport for London tfl.gov.uk
  33. Black cabs recalled in safety scare | Automotive industry | The Guardian theguardian.com
  34. Taxi Driver Online • View topic - TX4 Euro6 - Gearbox? taxi-driver.co.uk
  35. 2006 LONDON TAXI TX4 BRONZE AUTO | Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd August | Anglia Car Auctions angliacarauctions.co.uk
  36. LTI TX4 (2011-15) mycarcheck.com
  37. 2011 London Tax Company TAXI TX4 For Sale by Auction themarket.co.uk
  • prnewswire.co.uk
  • levcbreweryroad.com
  • autocarindia.com
  • independent.co.uk
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • businesswirechina.com
  • ukexportnews.co.uk
  • news.cision.com
  • sust-it.net
  • planinsurance.co.uk
  • motorbeam.com
  • carsales.com.au
  • themarket.co.uk
  • content.yudu.com

Photo credits

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