Hailing Stars: The Mercedes-Benz Vito Van Goes into Operation as a London Taxi

MILTON KEYNES, United Kingdom – February 25, 2009: The Mercedes-Benz Vito van has just entered service on London’s busy streets as a taxi, offering passengers comfort, safety and luxury as they make their way through one of world’s busiest cities.

What makes the Vito’s new urban role remarkable is that vehicles used as London taxis are subject to special requirements, and these primarily concern the turning circle of the vehicle.

A London taxi must have a turning circle of no more than 7.62 m between kerbs and 8.535 m between two parallel walls.

Even with its already-tight 11.8m turning circle this was a tough challenge for the Vito van.

As a comparison, the turning circle on the rear-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan is 10.8m, and 10.95m on the front-wheel-drive A-Class compact.

Previously these taxi requirements have only been met by the TX4 or 'Black Cab'. Now the One80 company has developed a rear-wheel steering system for the Vito, which enables it to meet these stringent requirements and take to the roads of London as the only competitor to the TX4.

The Mercedes-Benz Vito was able to prevail against competing large-capacity vehicles thanks to its well-conceived technical features.

Its rear-wheel drive system is inherently more favourable to a small turning circle.

The "compact" length variant offers both a short external length and a generous interior with access and space for wheelchairs.

Good fuel economy is ensured by diesel engines with the latest injection and emissions control technology.

The approximately 21,000 Black Cabs currently operating in London are now faced with a competitor for the first time.

The traffic scene on London’s roads is now slowly changing with the introduction of the first 120 Mercedes-Benz Vito taxis. Around 500 Vito taxis will gradually be entering service by the end of this year.