Nissan Redesigns the London Black Cab [Updated]

On Day 10 of the London Olympics, Nissan on Monday unveiled its vision for the future of the city's iconic 'black cab' and its 300,000 daily users - the Nissan NV200 London Taxi. Taxi versions of the NV200 have already been unveiled in Tokyo and New York, where it's billed as the "Taxi of Tomorrow."

The NV200 London Taxi will offer significantly reduced CO2 outputs compared to current taxi models, in line with London Mayor Boris Johnson's Air Quality strategy for London. An all-electric e-NV200 concept is also set to undergo trials in the Capital.

Another brand looking to modernize the city's black cab fleet — Olympics sponsor Visa, which is testing contactless payments, or as the brand puts it, "The arrival of contactless and chip and PIN taxi payment has freed Londoners and tourists from worrying about carrying cash, while enabling cabbies to transact payments more quickly and professionally, and gain more business."

Non-Olympics sponsor VeriFone, which calls itself "the worldwide leader in taxi and all forms of mobile and contactless payments," also has teamed up with London's fleet of iconic Black Taxis to offer media and in-taxi payments "ranging from simple standalone installations to fully integrated media (with SkyNews) and payment enabled fleets." More information in the videos below.