TX4

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TX4

Manufacturer	LTI Geely Automobile
Production	Late 2006- present
Predecessor	TXII
Successor	incumbent
Body style(s)	4-door saloon type

The TX4 is a purpose built taxicab hackney carriage manufactured by LTI (London Taxis International). It is the latest in a long line of purpose-built taxis manufactured by LTI (previously Carbodies). The design has evolved from the Austin FX4 which was eventually known as a Fairway. The TX4 takes most of its body styling from its predecessor the TXII (there is no TX3). It now features a new front radiator grille, a new interior design, updated front and rear bumpers and a different rear number plate surround. There are now internal headrests (as a result of safety regulations) with two fitted to the central partition for the rear-facing tip-up seats, plus many other revisions.

The TX4 offers a 2.5 VM Motori diesel engine mated electronically to a GM Chrysler automatic transmission (also used in the Jeep Cherokee). A manual version is also available.

The engine and transmission are built on a fully-boxed hydroform frame and a separate body, due to the nature of its separate chassis construction.

The front suspension, as with its predecessors, is of the coil spring type while the rear suspension is no longer the old-fashioned leaf spring type having been replaced with coil springs. The front suspension now has an anti-roll bar like a modern car.

Anecdotally the reason for there being no TX3 and the marque number going straight to 4 is because the engine is Euro IV compliant and also for the vehicle to have a connection with the famous Austin FX4^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] China market

In January 2007, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the LTI's shareholders approved a joint venture with Geely Automobile to manufacture the TX4 in China.