New York City picks Ford Crown Vic taxi replacement

[Brazen]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/...ig_winner.html


This will certainly change the NY streetscape!

New York picks new taxi: Nissan cab is the big winner


Some politicians are already saying hail no to the city's pick for the "Taxi of Tomorrow."

The city announced Tuesday that it had selected Japanese automaker Nissan to produce the "Taxi of Tomorrow" after submitting a bid based on its NV200 minivan design, as first reported by the Daily News.

But Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblyman Micah Kellner and Public Advocate Bill DiBlasio already called on city Controller John Liu to investigate the selection process, alleging a possible conflict of interest.

A TLC consultant on "Taxi of Tomorrow," automotive design and engineering company Ricardo also has done business with Nissan and Ford, the officials say.

Kellner also blasted the design for not being 100 % handicap accessible - and for looking old-fashioned.

"Who knew that the 'Taxi of Tomorrow' was the delivery van of yesterday?" Kellner said. "Just because you paint a van yellow doesn't make it a taxi."

Bloomberg, though, praised the new design, which includes more knee room, anti-bacterial seats, outlets and charging stations and sliding doors to avoid hitting cyclists.

"The City's Taxi of Tomorrow is the Nissan NV200 - and it's going to be the safest, most comfortable and most convenient cab the city has ever had," Bloomberg said in a release.

The TLC also announced the Ford Transit Connect runner up will be added to the list of approved cab vehicles during the interim period. That means the losing Ford will be on the road as soon as next month, well ahead of the Nissan.

The Daily News reported last week that the Nissan bid received the highest score in the competition based on design features like interior legroom and durability.

Bloomberg and TLC Chairman David Yassky in November revealed that Nissan was among three finalists in the competition, along with Ford and Turkish carmaker Karsan.

The Turkish company had vowed to build the cabs in Brooklyn if it won the contract, potentially bringing as many as 800 jobs to the area.

While there are 13,200 yellow cabs, only about 240 are handicapped accessible. Advocates saw the competition as an opportunity to increase the mobility for the estimated 50,000 wheelchair users in the city, along with many others who have difficult walking.


Ford's entry in the taxi competition. NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission

Advocates for the disabled have been pushing for the Karsan design because it featured ramps that mechanically extend from both sides of the vehicle. Its design also featured a see-through roof, offering new vertical vistas for everyday riders and tourists.

Large fleet owners wanted the Ford Transit Connect, another van that has been used for commercial purposes in Europe and has been approved for use as a cab in U.S. cities like Boston.

Either way, the taxi of the future won't be on the road anytime soon. At the time, officials said the winner would get a 10-year contract giving them exclusive right to make and sell yellow cabs to city hacks and fleet owners.

"Once the TOT (Taxi of Tomorrow) model is selected, TLC must necessarily engage in a lengthy contracting process before the TOT vehicle is in the market," Assistant Corporation Council Robin Binder wrote to the federal government last month. "Thus, the TOT vehicle is a long way from actually appearing on the streets of the city."

Out with the old... 4.6L V8 Ford Crown Victoria




In with the new.. Nissan NV200 based on the small Nissan Tiida with 1.8litre engine.

[2011G6E]

There have always been complaints about the boot size of a "full sized" US sedan like the Crown Vic. Long and wide, yes, but not very deep...certainly not like we are used to here in Oz with the Commodore and Falcon.

What's wrong with a Checker Cab?

[Dave R]

Mixed feelings about the replacement. Why didn't they find something American? The yellow Crown Vics are part of New York's landscape, I think it would be odd seeing it covered in Japanese vans. To me it kind of detracts from that great American image that NY has.

[jpd80]

Ford did give it a big go with the Transit Connect Electric Vehicle,
this one is powered by natural gs but the EV looks similar......