In design, combining technological advancement and nostalgia can sometimes be a tough ask. Good thing then that Thomas Heatherwick is the man making this possible.

Heatherwick and the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, recently unveiled the full-scale model of the new Routemaster bus, which is planned for the streets of the city in 2012.

Both the inside and the outside of the new bus design is said to be inspired by the Routemaster buses of yesteryear.  Inside features include two staircases and windows that match the smooth lines of the bus. Much of the interior details still need to be refined.

The passenger experience has been a key design focus. In keeping with green trends, the bus will be 40% more fuel efficient than the current diesel-powered double-decker buses. In addition to being much quieter, the new buses will also be 15% more fuel efficient than current hybrid models.