The talk of the Telford taxi exhibition was the striking new M8 hackney taxi from Cab Direct, in association with Mercedes-Benz.

As the only Mercedes hackney taxi tested to the rigorous requirements of full European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval the M8 sets new standards for the industry in terms of engineering and safety.

Configured to full hackney specification, up to 8 passengers can travel in comfort and style. At the same time the driver is assured of a safe, spacious, climate-controlled ride, with the added bonus of the M8's superb manoevrability and performance.

The bright, six-seat rear compartment reflects the highest quality of materials and craftsmanship. In addition to long-life luxury seating the SE-model boasts high-performance heating and TEMPMATIC air conditioning in both front and rear of the vehicle.

In addition the M8 SE also offers the added convenience of twin electric side-steps. Wheelchair access is also made easy thanks to a choice of lightweight ramps, together with ample room to manoeuvre the wheelchair passenger once inside the cab.

As Cab Direct Sales General Manager Peter Facenna explains, feedback from customers showed that luggage capacity is an increasingly critical issue for many types of work.

"That's why we've developed the unique ExtraSlide™ rear seat," comments Facenna. "By increasing travel on the rear seat we've been able to create a massive, 4-cubic metre luggage space in the rear of the M8, while retaining plenty of room for all customers in the spacious passenger compartment."

As for fundamentals, the M8's second-generation CDI diesel engine offers superb performance, reliability and economy. Low-down torque and pulling power are key assets across the choice of 109, 111 or 115 CDI options. The power-plant also meets all modern emission standards and with service intervals of up to 18,000 miles you're guaranteed to spend more time on the road, earning money.

As well as superb road handling, the M8 offers a wealth of modern saftey features, from driver's airbag and high-strength body frame to all-round disc brakes and anti-lock braking system (ABS).

Another key feature of the M8 is the choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission, both of which operate with the supreme smoothness and reliability which you associate with Mercedes-Benz.

Peter Facenna concludes: "We set out to create the ultimate hackney taxi. Whatever was needed, we were determined not to compromise on quality.

"We've also undertaken a major programme of detailed design and engineering work to ensure we were ready for the 14 additional, exhaustive tests required to achieve European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval on the full hackney specification.

"At the end of the day we are delighted with the quality of the end product and equally pleased that even the top-of-the-range M8 SE - with all its advanced engineering and safety features - retails for less than an equivalent TXII."