Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, USA
NYC is looking for "The taxi of tomorrow"
Are you an automaker interested in having your cars cruising the streets of the Big Apple as taxicabs? If so, then keep on reading. New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has created a website with a request for information (RFI) that seeks information on ways to bring the "next iconic taxi to the City's streets."
This RFI will get feedback from the auto industry so the TLC can study possibilities of creating a special vehicle that balances the city's need for taxis as well as a blueprint and timeline to bring the new "medallion yellow" NYC taxi model to the streets. According to the website, the new taxi should have the following requirements:
- Meets highest safety standards
- Superior passenger experience
- Superior driver comfort and amenities
- Appropriate purchase price and ongoing maintenance and repair costs
- Smaller environmental footprint (lower emissions and improved fuel economy)
- Smaller physical footprint (with more usable interior room)
- Compliance with appropriate Americans with Disabilities Act requirements
- Iconic design that will identify the new taxi with New York City
[Source: TLC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MarkR 5:46PM (2/21/2008)
Its called the Cash Cab.
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/cashcab/cashcab.html
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Thunderbuck 6:36PM (2/21/2008)
London Taxi (the new one)
4 cyl Ford diesel (VERY good fuel economy, though particulate emissions might be an issue).
Seats 5 in the rear passenger compartment. Or can accomodate a wheelchair passenger via fold-out ramp. Safety features also include built-in child seat.
And, yes, it's marketed in North America with left hand drive.
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Mirko 12:52AM (2/22/2008)
Chrysler could drop a 4cyl diesel into the extended wheelbase 300. Large sedans with small diesels are the typical taxi pretty much everywhere in the world.
Alternatively, Volkswagen Caddy Maxi... Roomy, cheap, efficient with the TDI/DSG...
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LaughingTooHard 9:46AM (2/22/2008)
I would love to see a NY taxi be the prototype for all taxi/livery vehicles in the US. The UK has the LTI and Japan has the Crown.
Get on it boys and girls, let's see the Checker reborn with a nice clean powerplant!
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P B 10:18AM (2/22/2008)
The new cab should be a zero emission vehicle. A version of the Air Car would work just fine:
http://zeropollutionmotors.us/?page_id=54
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Antti 10:27AM (2/22/2008)
http://www.citycab.stadia.fi/www/en/index.php
A student project from Finland.
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Mike 6:08PM (2/23/2008)
Have GM fix the G8 Sportwagon so it meets US crash standards, then make a two mode plug-in hybrid version with a turbodiesel four banger. It would be expensive as hell, but with the amount of miles those cars rack up, it would probably be worth it.
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