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NYC says taxi drivers can choose hybrids over Nissan ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’

Filed under: Nissan, Legislation and Policy

Right about now, Nissan must be wishing it had a baked-in a shorter development time for its NV200 hybrid. Nissan started production on the taxi version of the NV200 about a year ago and has previously stated it will offer a hybrid version out by 2015.

But that’s late enough that the Japanese automaker’s foothold on future New York City taxi sales is looser than it otherwise would have been. Last week, New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission voted to allow cab drivers to buy their own hybrids as an alternative to the NV200 minivan cab, the New York Daily News reports. Two years ago, the gas-powered NV200 was named by the city government as NYC’s “Taxi of Tomorrow” because of features including available features like a glass roof and on-board cell-phone rechargers, not to mention its roominess and relative fuel efficiency.

The city was set to start pushing for the taxi-fleet switchover in October but has faced legal opposition in recent months from the state’s Supreme Court, which now says the city’s mandate is unenforceable, in part because it doesn’t offer fleet owners a hybrid alternative.

NYC says taxi drivers can choose hybrids over Nissan ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: New York Taxi Commission moves to ban Lexus RX 450h

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Crossover, Lexus

NYC Taxi

With over 13,000 taxis in Manhattan, it’s easy to blend in. Over half of those taxis are of the Crown Victoria variety, while a quarter are Ford Escape models. Hybrids are beginning to enter the New York taxi fleets in solid numbers, but a certain model has been singled out as being “too powerful.”

The New York Times reports that The Taxi and Limousine Commission has recently passed a regulation removing the Lexus RX 450h from the list of approved cabs. We’ve never thought of the RX hybrid as “too powerful,” but that doesn’t seem to matter to the commission.

The move, while a bit odd, will only affect six cab owners. But those owners dropped over $40,000 for their high-end taxis, and more money was spent adding the required yellow paint, lights, a camera and television screen. The owners are hoping to have their Lexus cabs grandfathered in before the Nissan NV200 van is officially ushered in as the Taxi of Tomorrow, but the Taxi and Limousine Commission isn’t commenting on the issue.

For our money, it seems as though the Commission is a bit off on this one. After all, most any passenger is going to enjoy the luxury taxi experience, especially since the fares are the same as they are in an Escape or Crown Vic. And “too powerful?” Seriously?

New York Taxi Commission moves to ban Lexus RX 450h originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cab Cannonball? Men take taxi ride from New York to Los Angeles [w/video]

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Videos, Ford, Specialty

men take ford escape taxi cab across the country

Men take taxi ride from New York to Los Angeles – Click above to watch the video after the jump

We’ve taken a couple crazy cab rides in our lifetime, but we’ve never paid up for a ride that took us from New York to Los Angeles. John Belitsky and his buddy Dan Wuebben have done the deed, though, with cabbie Mohammed Alam providing the yellow Ford Escape taxi. The cost? $5,000. The media attention from paying a cabbie five grand to take you cross country? Priceless.

If you’re thinking that this sounds like the script to a movie, Belitsky is probably thinking the same thing. CNN reports that the investment banker and son of a cab driver is heading to Hollywood to pitch the story as a movie idea, adding “we’re going to take it to some movie people when we get there and see what happens.”

We’re all for a good (and we stress “good“) road trip movie, but we’re more impressed with the fact that Belitsky was able to convince a cab driver to take the fare in the first place. The traveling pair reportedly asked more than a few cabbies if they were up for the journey, but only Alam was interested in risking the hefty fare. But even at $5,000, Belitsky got off easy on the trip. We’re guessing the trip would have cost at least three times as much if the meter were actually running, and the cab driver still had to get his Escape all the way back to the Big Apple.

Hit the jump to watch a WBIR video report about the trio’s momentous road trip.

[Source: CNN]

Continue reading Cab Cannonball? Men take taxi ride from New York to Los Angeles [w/video]

Cab Cannonball? Men take taxi ride from New York to Los Angeles [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geely channels London’s iconic taxi with Englong SC7-RV for Shanghai

Filed under: Wagon, China, Work, Shanghai Motor Show, Geely

Geely SC7-RV

Geely Englong SC7-RV – Click above to view the image gallery

Chinese automaker Geely is part owner of Manganese Bronze, which makes the famous black taxi cabs for the UK and Chinese markets. But while a pricey cab makes sense for the UK, a high-dollar cab in China isn’t always profitable. For that reason, Geely will introduce the Englong SC7-RV next week at the Shanghai Motor Show.

While the instantly recognizable UK taxi does its job well, it utilizes a platform that is totally unique. By contrast, the Englong SC7-RV will reportedly use a platform from Geely’s existing fleet. And since the parts are common and the production will likely occur in China, costs are expected to dip considerably. And if you ask us, the SC7-RV actually manages to look kind of cool. Even better for prospective taxi owners in China, this livery special will likely make it to production.

Gallery: Geely Englong SC7-RV

Geely Englong SC7-RV

[Source: China Car Times]

Geely channels London’s iconic taxi with Englong SC7-RV for Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Mitsubishi

stig driving london taxi

Stig goes round and round in a London Taxi – Click above to watch video after the jump

Top Gear Live is the traveling version of the world’s greatest show about cars. Part of that extravaganza includes The Stig, and he likes to showcase his driving talents to the crowd. One thing that doesn’t require much skill, however, is a burnout. Supply Stiggy with a proper car, let him loose, and the result will be ruined tires, smoke and many cheering fans. Is it that easy if the car being used is a London Taxi?

It is when beneath the glossy black people-mover body sits a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The result is far better than the Cash Cab, and we think the Stig agrees. Click past the jump to watch two clips of the Evo taxi in action. Thanks to all for the tips.

[Source: YouTube via CarScoop]

Continue reading Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi

Video: Stig does donuts in Mitsubishi Evo-based London taxi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supreme Court strikes down Bloomberg’s hybrid taxi plan for NYC

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

New York City hybrid taxi

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has fought long and hard to uphold a local law requiring all city cab companies to replace their gas-guzzling Ford Crown Victoria sedans with more efficient livery vehicles. A noble goal, no doubt, but the Supreme Court is having none of it.

The New York Post reports that the highest court in the land refused to hear the case after four years of battles in the lower courts, giving the victory to the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade. The court ruled that federal agencies have the sole right to regulate emissions and efficiency, not the mayor of one town – even if it is the City That Never Sleeps.

When the Supreme Court swings its gavel, there usually isn’t another shot, but that likely won’t stop Mayor Bloomberg from lobbying Congress to change the rules. The mayor said that local governments are the ones dealing with climate change and energy policy, adding “the federal government seems unable to address those issues.”

While the city of New York appears to have lost the efficiency war, the Big Apple can still feel good about the fact that some 4,400 of the 13,237 cabs on its streets are hybrids. And if gas prices continue to jump, we’re thinking many of the other 8,000 cabs will follow suit.

[Source: New York Post | Image: Chris Hondros/Getty]

Supreme Court strikes down Bloomberg’s hybrid taxi plan for NYC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkish taxi of tomorrow design beats Nissan, Ford proposals among New Yorkers [w/video]

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Etc., Work

Karsan V1 New York City Taxi – Click above for high-res image gallery

The people of New York City have spoken, and they’ve found the taxi designs from both Ford and Nissan lacking. You may remember that the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission recently set about polling residents on which of a handful of taxi designs they preferred for the future of transportation in the city. Automakers from around the world submitted their designs for a cab that was safe, offered a small environmental impact, complied with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and was physically smaller than the tried-and-true Crown Victoria. Well, the votes are officially in, and a cab from the Turkish company Karsan is the winner.

Around 66 percent of respondents either liked or loved the design of the Karsan V1, and that was enough to seal the vehicle’s fate as the people’s choice for the Taxi of Tomorrow. The V1 boasts a number of appealing unique features, including a panoramic glass roof and wheelchair ramps on both sides of the vehicle for easy access. It’s also a hybrid, which means that cabbies can expect to save fuel in the future if the commission picks the V1 as the city’s new cab, and it is easily adaptable to other fuel sources as needed, including diesel, natural gas or fully electric.

The city is likely to take the results of the survey into consideration as it makes a final decision later this year, though popularity with the public provides no guarantees that NYC cabbies will soon be talking Turkey. Check out a video detailing the finer points of the Karsan V1 New York City taxi concept after the break.

Gallery: Karsan V1 New York City Taxi concept

Karsan V1 New York City Taxi concept

[Source: NY1]

Continue reading Turkish taxi of tomorrow design beats Nissan, Ford proposals among New Yorkers [w/video]

Turkish taxi of tomorrow design beats Nissan, Ford proposals among New Yorkers [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen crafts a London Black Taxi for the future

Filed under: Concept Cars, Work, Volkswagen, UK

Volkswagen London Taxi Concept

Volkswagen London Taxi Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen is putting it’s own unique spin on a London icon. The VW London Taxi Concept, which is built upon the Up! city car platform, is an electric cab with an estimated range of 186 miles. Though the overall length of 3,730 millimeters means the Taxi concept is shorter than a VW Fox, its minimal front and rear overhang allow for plenty of room to accommodate the driver and two full-size adult passengers plus luggage. Inside, the Volkswagen London Taxi Concept features touchscreen displays that provide information on the surrounding area and the route being traveled.

Since this is just a concept, it doesn’t conform to current London taxi regulations. However, it does provide a glimpse at what the future might hold for emission-free urban transportation choices.

Gallery: Volkswagen London Taxi Concept

Volkswagen London Taxi Concept

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen crafts a London Black Taxi for the future

Volkswagen crafts a London Black Taxi for the future originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Scott Speed’s Redbull NASCAR taxi earns its fare in Chicago

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Videos, Work, Toyota, Humor, Racing

Scott Speed takes his NASCAR taxi to Chicago – Click above to watch video after the jump

With the venerable Ford Crown Victoria on its way out, cabbies all across the country are being forced to come up with all kinds of solutions to their passenger-hauling needs. The Toyota Camry has a bit of favor with this crowd thanks to its roomy back seat, efficient drivetrain and inexpensive MSRP. Of course, all of that goes out of the window when you start talking about the NASCAR interpretation of the sedan. Red Bull recently decided to put one of its tri-oval terrors to work on the streets of Chicago as a cab, complete with none other than Scott Speed behind the wheel.

With a few additions like real headlights, brake lights, turning indicators and a license-plate bezel, the Number 82 Camry was handily transformed into a street legal machine. Speed spent the better part of a morning shuffling people around the streets of the Windy City in a blaze of tire smoke and V8 glory. It looks like plenty of fun, and we’re guessing there will never be another cab ride quite like it. Still, we think we’d rather end up in the Cash Cab. Hit the jump to check out the video.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Scott Speed’s Redbull NASCAR taxi earns its fare in Chicago

Video: Scott Speed’s Redbull NASCAR taxi earns its fare in Chicago originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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