Back in May this year, Michael R. Bloomberg announced that the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) selected the Nissan NV200 minivan as the exclusive cab of New York City for the next 10 years, beginning in late 2013.
Now, the public as well as taxi owners will be able to see and feel the Nissan NV200 Taxi in person almost a year before it enters service, at the Nissan Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo, which takes place from November 1 to 5 on the pedestrian plaza across from the Flatiron building at Broadway and Fifth Avenue.
“Nissan’s NV200 Taxi will be the first taxi in the world to offer new and iconic features developed for, and with, New Yorkers,” said Joe Castelli, vice president, Nissan Fleet & Commercial Vehicles.
“The Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo will offer a first look at these one-of-a kind amenities, which include increased legroom, plenty of interior lighting, and materials that reduce odors and germs while supporting sustainability,” Castelli added.
The NV200 Taxi is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder powertrain and promises to offer "ample room" for four passengers and their luggage.
Among other highlights are a low-annoyance horn with exterior lights to show when it is in use, sliding doors with entry step and grab handles, a transparent roof panel with shade, independently controlled rear air conditioning and a mobile charging station for passengers that comes with a 12V electrical outlet and two USB plugs.
5 Comments:
I'm sure NY cab companies are REALLY happy to have the type of vehicle they drive dictated to them. Never mind that Bloomberg has just killed off any competition that could make those vehicles less expensive.
I'm not sure if the taxi companies are required to purchase these specific cabs. Does anyone know what the deal is? I know it states "exclusive", but I have read otherwise in other articles.
Some nice features, particulary the sunroof and ease of entry and exit. But the Turkish competitor was wheelchair accessible, The city is being sued under the ADA about the lack of access for this cab.
Also: seriously ugly. Bleachhh. Would it have killed Nissan to make it a bit more loveable, like the modern London cabs for instance? A little more Cube or original Versa instead of ugly no-style.
Why is the interior two shades of gray? The passenger compartment has all the atmosphere of a drunk tank. No nice shapes or materials to make the passenger feel they are being treated better than crap. Again, a little aesthetics really wouldn't cost much if anything.
Also, it's odd that this is not a hybrid. There are already a bunch of different hybrids nyc cabs used now as alternatives to Crown Vics. City driving is where a hybrid really works.
And I hope the sliding door is powered. The current minivan cabs have manual doors, which seems strange given that all regular minivans have a powered door option. Minivan doors aren't that easy to close and open without a bit of familiarity and strength.
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