Nissan Evalia a.k.a Nissan NV200 is Nissan’s latest MPV for the global market. The carmaker has already launched the car in major markets but for the Indian market the launch is yet to take place. In terms of practicality and space the Evalia is a fabulous car which is the reason why it was able to replace Ford Crown Victoria taxis in New York City. Not only Victoria, the car even replaced the taxis in Barcelona and now Nissan has proposed for replacing the iconic London Black Cabs with the NV200.
Also known as Hackney Carriage, the black cabs have been serving the citizens of London for a long time and is one the things that define the city. At the 2012 London Olympics which are still running, Nissan unveiled a new Taxi Version of NV200 designed specifically for London.
Under the hood the London Cab version features a 1.5 litre turbocharged dCi diesel engine that powers many cars such as Nissan Micra, Nissan Sunny and Renault Pulse in India. Contrastingly the New York version of the feature features a 2.0 litre. The 1.5 l DCi motor is available in two power options: 90 BHP and 110 BHP. While the 90 BHP version is mated to a 5 speed manual transmission, the 110 BHP version comes with a 6 speed manual gearbox. Nissan is also working on an automatic variant which is expected to arrive in 2013.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the Evalia returns a mileage of 18.9 KMPL as against the 12.5 KMPL offered by London cabs which is a significant difference. Since the engine complies with the Euro V emission norms, it emits only half the carbon dioxide that the current black cabs emit. Actual Figures: Nissan Evalia/NV200: 139 gm/kilometer CO2 ; London Cabs : 240 gm/kilometer CO2
Some of the interesting features available in the NV200 or Evalia include a massive sunroof, USB charging ports, Lighting control system and individual climate control.
Official Video Nissan NV200 London Cab
In early 2013, the NV200 or Evalia is expected to hit the roads of London. As of now the certification is under process and even the crash test reports has not come yet but by the end of 2012, Nissan expects all the work to get finished. The annual demand for taxis in the whole of UK is expected to rise from 2000 to 3000 vehicles per year and therefore it is the best time for NV200’s entry. Nissan is also planning to bring an all-electric version of NV200 Taxi in 2013.
In India, the Evalia will be launched in September 2012. We will bring you all the details from the launch, stay tuned to Car Blog India for latest updates.
