Nissan has unveiled the new face of its Taxi for London, redesigned to make it instantly recognizable as one of the capital's iconic black cabs, according to the automaker.

Based on the company's successful multi-purpose NV200 platform, the vehicle was first unveiled as new vision for the famous London Hackney Carriage in August 2012. In response to feedback from the London Mayor's office, Transport for London, and other key organizations, which have put their backing behind the new taxi, Nissan has redesigned the vehicle to better reflect the iconic nature of the traditional black cab.

Nissan's newly redesigned taxi has been developed for London, in London, by Nissan Design Europe (NDE) in Paddington, the same design center responsible for the Qashqai and Juke. The new taxi will be launched in December 2014 with a modern, clean, 1.6L gasoline engine equipped with an automatic gearbox.  In addition, Nissan will launch a zero emission electric version of the NV200 taxi in 2015.

Nissan already has a rich pedigree in the London taxi market - its 2.7L TD27 diesel engine was fitted to the FX4 "Fairway" and TX1 black cabs during the 1980s and 1990s and gained a reputation for reliability and durability, according to the automaker. In developing the NV200 Taxi for London, Nissan has ensured that it adheres to the strict TfL regulations governing Hackney Carriages, including the required 25-foot (7.6-meter) turning circle.

The NV200 cab for London is part of Nissan's global taxi program, which also encompasses New York, Barcelona, and Tokyo. The London version's design is reflects the rich heritage and status of London's black cabs, according to the automaker.

Among the specific changes that have been made to the front of the NV200 taxi are:

• Round headlamps and a re-modeled grille mirroring the traditional London cab "face."

• LED lighting to improve visibility of the traditional taxi sign.

• Completely new front bumper panels.