THE famous London cabs will ply the roads of Shanghai next month but will be painted in the eye-catching gold color instead of the black color they are well-known for.

Qiangsheng Taxi Co said the change in color suited the city better.

The flag-down fare will be 19 yuan (US$3.09) — 5 yuan more than the regular taxis — for the first 3 kilometers, but the higher fare has yet to be approved by the city’s transport authority. The fare for each kilometer after the initial charge will be 2.6 yuan — 0.2 yuan more than the others.