Volkswagen's forthcoming Up city car has enjoyed a particularly long prototype phase, stretching from the original three-door concept car of that name from the 2007 Frankfurt show.
This latest concept, said to be the last before the Up is finally launched in Europe next year, presents a new take on the legendary London Taxi, while also giving us a closer approximation of the final production Up's design and previewing a possible electric version that is rumoured to be in the pipeline for 2013.
The production Up will be sold in both three-door form and stretched five-door form, sans the high-roof format of the concept you see here. VWSA has not entertained any possibility of the Up coming to South Africa, essentially it's a city car more suited to Europe.
Conceived to solve the challenges faced by vehicles in modern cities, with ever tighter restrictions on space and emissions, the Taxi Concept is powered by an electric motor fed by lithium-ion batteries.
With a capacity of 45 kW/h, the batteries allow the electric motor to generate a maximum power output of 85kW.
The range of the Volkswagen Taxi Concept is estimated at 298km between charges (which is good by electric car standards) with an 80 per cent charge taking around one hour to complete.
Despite measuring just 3.7 metres in length, a long wheelbase and minimal front and rear overhangs allow it to have a spacious cabin with room for two adults to be seated in comfort plus an allocated area for luggage.
The theme running throughout the vehicle is simplicity, with an elegant, clutter-free look to the interior. The major functions of the vehicle including climate, entertainment and fare information are all grouped onto one touchscreen display mounted next to the driver.
In the back a similar screen relays information to the passengers on their route and their immediate environment.
While the concept doesn't adhere to current legal requirements regulating taxis in London, VW reckons it does offer an insight into the possibility of a future small, efficient taxi that offers an alternative to conventional fuels.