London iconic Black Cabs are famous for their practical packaging and functional, durable mechanicals.
So would you buy one instead of a BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class? A UK tuning company hopes so, because it's making a bespoke super-luxury version that'll cost well upwards of NZ$200,000.
Sutton Bespoke, a division of luxury car dealer Clive Sutton, is basing the new cars on the electric range-extender LEVC TX, which is familiar to London residents.
The firm says it started up the project after receiving a positive response on social media channels to the idea of an ultra-luxury taxi.
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The Sutton VIP Class LEVC taxi features a fully redesigned interior, with rear seats angled for comfort and trimmed in Sandalwood leather with Alcantara trim.
Replacing the hard-wearing rubber flooring is high-quality thick-pile carpet, and hand-crafted wood veneers adorn the door trims. A panoramic roof floods the cabin with natural light, and after dusk occupants can tailor the ambient lighting system with a colour to match their mood.
Occupants have access to haptic climate controls, an upgraded stereo system with Bluetooth, Apple TV, and a Sony PS4 console. Between the rear passengers there is a new-design "luxury armrest", and behind that a refrigerator.
Separating the driver and passenger compartment is a retractable screen, affording privacy as well as making the vehicle more Coronavirus-secure. An electrically adjustable leather seat and a state-of-the-art digital instrument cluster ensure the driver remains comfortable during prolonged stints at the wheel. Soft-close doors can also be specified.
For the exterior, a unique two-tone finish features; the iconic black taxi paint for the lower portions, and Ferrari Grigio Silverstone above for a touch of added sophistication.
The taxi sign on the roof will remain to preserve the iconic silhouette of the vehicle, albeit with the "TAXI" lettering replaced by "VIP".
The price is around NZ$200,000 for business buyers, or more like $240,000 if you're a private buyer wanting to one-up that Audi A8.
