What is red but green, open but closed and old but new? Answer: London’s stunning newdouble-decker buses.

The traditional red double-deckers are a symbol of London. Their iconic status was sealed in 2008 when one bus made the longer-than-usual trip to Beijing to collect a very special passenger: the Olympic Flame.

Now a new bus design has been unveiled and it has been wowing Londoners.

The new bus uses more efficient green technology and has two staircases and an open platform, enabling people to hop on and hop off. It also has a unique asymmetric design for the front end, which gives it a futuristic look.

The new double-deckers, which have three doors to speed up boarding, are expected to be in service in 2012.

• double-decker双层巴士
• iconic标志性的
• sealed盖上印章
• unveiled揭开面纱/剪彩
• wowing让人惊叹
• hop on and hop off 跳上 跳下
• symmetric不对称的
• futuristic 极新潮的