Ford Motor has long been a big-time supplier of taxis, from the Crown Victoria, with its generously proportioned sedan stylings to the Explorer Hybrid, with its more au courant engine design. At the New York auto show on Wednesday, it unveiled a concept vehicle that could point the way to a new generation of taxis.
The Transit Connect Taxi concept is based on a small van design that Ford has sold in Europe for about five years. Within that boxy platform Ford has layered some new high-tech features, along with the basics of a taxi configuration.
Credit: Ford Motor
The Transit Connect offers a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. It pollutes less, too, Ford says, with "nearly 90 per cent lower tailpipe emissions than many of today's traditional taxis". The taxi can accommodate three rear-cab passengers.
Credit: Ford Motor
The partition between passengers and driver has a whole new look in Ford's taxi concept. Central to the new features is a 13-inch touchscreen that offers control over entertainment and navigation options, including video and music selections and a scroll of news, weather and sports headlines. The silvery ball -- Ford calls it 'Sputnik' -- allows passengers to get cash to the driver.
Credit: Ford Motor
The touchscreen offers a running tally of the cab fare and the now familiar credit or debit choices, and kindly helps you calculate a tip.
Credit: Ford Motor
A map feature lets you keep track of the taxi's (hopefully not circuitous) route or go exploring to find that restaurant your friends have told you about.
Credit: Ford Motor
The Transit Connect Taxi concept provides the driver with an in-dash computer, the same one that Ford is now installing in the 2009 version of its F-150 pickup truck. The computer is based on the Microsoft Auto format, provides Internet access, and works with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones.
Credit: Ford Motor
For those traveling around big cities, the 'vista roof' could offer a view of the passing high rises.
Credit: Ford Motor
Visit reviews.cnet.co.uk for in-depth reviews of many more products
