Highlights of the New York Auto Show: Ford Transit Connect Taxi Concept
Say goodbye to Mr, Stinky!
You thought I was talking about the cab driver didn’t you. No, we aren’t trying to hurt any feelings here. The new Ford Transit Connect Taxi Concept (say that five times fast) is rated at nearly 90% less emissions than the standard Ford Crown Victoria taxi cab you would find in New York City. This means that we will all be breathing a little easier if this concept is adopted onto our streets.
The new Ford also gets 19 MPG in the city… and that’s even considering the way most New York Taxi drivers drive. That is some decent savings from the 15 or 16MPG the Crown Victoria pulls in. Will this new design effect the overall price of your trip to the airport? Doubtfully. How about at least improve the congested streets on New York? Definitely not. Perhaps give you a little more comfort along with its touch of earth savings? Why Yes it will!
The new interior layout not only offers passengers an easy step into the cab, a plenitude of headroom, but also gives passengers a bit more privacy and entertainment, with its large front screen with a built in navigator and entertainment system all in one.
This means that not only can you see for your own eyes if the driver is taking you on the loooong short route, but you can also keep track of the fare and the weather. If you get really bored you may even want to check up on your stocks using its scrolling news channels. This thing even has music videos.
No longer do you even need to worry much about whether or not the driver speaks what ever language you prefer, as the system allows you to pay from the comfort of your seat with a credit or debit card. With just a bit more automation, we soon won’t have a driver at all to deal with.
As great as the new cab appeared on the floor at the New York Show, it still caught a lot of flack from advocates of electric and hybrid technology. Some said that the 2.0 liter four cylinder was actually not all that great compared to what it could be. But the thing is, that is just the way that car manufacturers work. They just give their consumers a little bit at a time. They are afraid to rock the boat too drastically before getting the idea afloat.
So, cut them some slack. At least they are taking steps in the right direction for a change!
