London taxi gives TV firm the star treatment

A television and film company in the Far East has bought a new London taxi to ferry around cast and crew members in style.

Bigfoot Entertainment wanted to turn heads around its Philippines base to boost its image and thought a purpose-built cab from Coventry-based LTI Vehicles would be a novel way of doing just that.

The gold specification black cab will advertise its International Academy of Film and Television while negotiating the streets of Cebu.

The taxi was shipped in May, a bumper export month for the company whose latest TX4 model is breaking order book records.

As well as sending a vehicle to the Philippines, one taxi is going to Paris, France, two to Milan, Italy, and two to Angola.

The grey TX4 for Paris is a replacement for an existing customer there who wants to update an older model.

Two gold specification black taxis are going to a private buyer in Milan through the local Lamborghini dealer.

And the two into Angola are private sales following hot on the heels of two previous taxis which have been sold into the region in the last few months.

The deals in France, Italy, Angola and Philippines are worth around £200,000 to LTI Vehicles, which launched the TX4 in October 2006.

Nigel Walters, Overseas Operations Co-ordinator for the company, said: “Our taxis are famous the world over, instantly recognisable as a British icon.

“We already have got cabs in all corners of the globe but new export orders for the TX4 are really booming.

“Since its launch, interest has grown month on month. Existing customers are updating their models and new enquiries are coming in from far and wide.

”We are delighted with the success and have increased production at our factory to cope with demand.”

The TX4 was launched by Coventry-based LTI Vehicles in October 2006 to widespread acclaim. It has retained the instantly-recognisable shape of its predecessors but boasts a distinctive restyled front grille, cleaner Euro IV compatible VM engine, anti-local brakes as standard and remodelled suspension.

Fully-wheelchair-accessible, the vehicle has a host of safety features including grab handles, lit foot wells, induction hearing loop and swivel seat for ease of access for the less mobile.