New York City's newest taxis feature special passenger seats that "help neutralize interior odors."The Taxi of Tomorrow, today.
Make that last night. Nissan yesterday debuted its winning design for the next generation of New York’s iconic yellow cabs at a glitzy event in the city’s Soho district.
Known as the NV200, the $29,700 minivan-shaped taxi won’t hit Gotham’s streets until late next year, but the Japanese automaker is giving New Yorkers and tourists a sneak peak of the new fleet this week. The cab will be on display at the 2012 New York International Auto Show, which opens Friday and runs through April 15 at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan.
New York’s Taxi and Limousine Commission last year picked Nissan’s design over entries from Ford, maker of the Crown Victorias long-associated with New York cabbies, and the Turkish automaker Karsan. The win came with a $1 billion contract for Nissan to be exclusive supplier of New York’s 13,000 cabs over the next decade.
"The Nissan NV200 unveiled today will be the safest, most comfortable and most convenient taxi the City has ever had," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "New York City cabs have always been iconic, and now they will set a new standard. The 600,000 passengers who use taxis to get around every day deserve the cutting-edge technology and top-of-the-line safety features that this model delivers."
Transparent roof panels offer views of the city, while a low-annoyance horn spares pedestrians and comes with exterior lights that turn on when the driver honks.Among other things, the cab boasts a number of upgrades for passengers and drivers alike, including "ample room" for four passengers and their luggage; sliding doors with a running board that makes it easier to get in and out of the vehicle; electrical outlets and USB ports so passengers can charge devices; GPS for both the driver and passengers; and an adjustable driver’s seat featuring both recline and lumbar adjustments. The cab’s 4-cylinder powertrain also reportedly gets 25 miles to the gallon.
But whether the modern features and surburban looks of New York’s new cabs mean hacks themselves lose their iconic edge and breakneck driving skills remains to be seen.
Ed Beeson: (973) 392-4262, ebeeson@starledger.com.