New York 2008: Hail a Cab with Ford’s Transit Connect Taxi Concept
With the demise of the illustrious Crown Victoria nigh, Ford - as well as cab drivers in New York City - may have to look to new ideas to fill the hole left by the sedan's departure. Perhaps it's fitting, then, that Ford's fitted a new Transit Connect to demonstrate the European van's ability to serve in livery fleets. We could do without the two-toned paint ripped out of Judge Dredd, but many of the Transit Connect's features seem more than ideal for a modern NYC taxi. Fitted with a second-row bench, the Taxi concept seats five like the 'Vic, but offers nearly four times the amount of luggage space. Those twin sliding doors may be minivan-like, but they do provide easy entry and exit without protruding into traffic.
Ford's added a few extra goodies, equipping the Transit with its new Work Solutions system for the operator, but also giving passengers a new interactive navigation and payment computer on the rear partition. And for those more concerned with the view than the drive, a panoramic glass roof allows for upward sightseeing - important for tourists in the Big Apple. We think the Transit Connect has promise for such an application, but we'd have to see Ford start working on fitting a hybrid propulsion system if the concept is to see widespread use in NYC. With mayor Michael Bloomberg promising all future taxis will be HEVs by 2012, perhaps a gasoline-electric Connect is just what the jitney ordered.
NEW YORK, March 19, 2008 – Ford, the leading provider of taxis in North America, is offering a fresh take on taxis at the New York International Auto Show.“Taxis are an important part of the urban landscape, and the Transit Connect Taxi concept represents a potential game-changer, given its small footprint, comfortable, spacious interior, fuel-efficient engine and affordability,
Comments
Garfield134
build it!
06YellowGT
maybe it fits the need in the market place, but i think it's ugly.
blue-coupe
A lot of flat space for advertising....
Todd Edelman
As a cyclist, I like the sliding doors, but wish that ALL the doors were sliding, like on the Peugeot 1007. Also, all taxis should be emission-free.
mbslrm
Don't Crown Victoria's have space for 6 (3 + 3)? They do have 6 seat belts...
Paul In Jersey
mbslm, yes, the Crown Vics have bench seats, but you really don't want more than one person sitting up there while Sanjit talks on the phone and you're riding shotgun.
As for Mr. Edelman's request that they be "emission-free?" That's a nice idea, but won't come to fruition for a very long time.
An all electric vehicle only pushes the emissions down to the electricity plant.
Trinks
With its standard, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, Transit Connect delivers estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city
Is that all? I sure hope it's either a very powerful engine or an unfortunate typo to get such low economy numbers.
chrisUK
In the UK this is a common workhorse of most small to medium businesses, however this is only available in a 1.8 diesel in the UK giving Better MPG especially with Petrol at nearly $9 a gallon!!!(£1.05 per litre) even though Diesel is at $10 a gallon. Maybe a smaller engine could help, why is a 2.0 litre needed in a city where traffic hardly moves? (and yes i have been stuck in a Ford Crown Victoria for half an hour on the FDR in NYC) Maybe a 1.6 may be more fitting, especially in a hybrid version.
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