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Transit Connect Taxi Concept: Stylish Update to Taxi Fleet

Posted March 19, 2008 at 10:15 pm Make a Comment

: Transit Connect Taxi Concept

At the 2008 New York International Auto Show, Ford added to their Transit Connect lineup with a concept car familiar to the New York Cityscape: the taxi. Transit Connect Taxi Concept is “a potential game-changer,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. “We’re interested to see how people react.”

With its 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, Transit Connect delivers estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city – a more than 30 percent improvement in fuel economy than many of today’s traditional taxis. With 6.5-inches of ground clearance, passengers step through the sliding doors and into the cab instead of sliding into the back seat. With the flat panel “taxi bubble,” passengers will know which cabs are occupied: green if available, orange if occupied.

The Taxi concept also features an infotainment and navigation system that shows passengers their accumulating cab fare; and a scrolling news, weather, sports score and stock ticker. Using the 13-inch diagonal touch screen, passengers can select video and music channels, follow the taxi’s journey on a map or scroll through a list of points of interest along the route and offers payment options: credit, cash, or debit. For the driver, it features customized versions of Ford Work Solutions and Garmin navigation.

Jim Farley, group vice president of Marketing and Communications for Ford, thinks that this concept is another step forward in Ford’s global strategy. “Transit Connect is designed and sold in Europe, built in Turkey, and will soon be available in the United States. This is the future of Ford: reducing emissions, helping the environment, leveraging our assets as a global company.”

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24 COMMENTS ABOUT Transit Connect Taxi Concept: Stylish Update to Taxi Fleet Make a Comment

TIMOTHY BRENNAN says (August 20, 2008 at 4:22 am):

I think this vehicle would be great to adapt for the disabled. You could put the wheelchair lift coming right out the back or either side without having to structually alter the vehicle. As a disabled driver who has to haul a motorized wheelchair, This Vehicle definately would fill the bill for this role nicely. And the wide opening door make getting in and out easy. For someone with limited mobility that is a plus.

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Adam says (July 31, 2008 at 12:00 pm):

Living in NYC - the landscape of taxis is changing. The crown vics are still the most comfortable, unless you need a van. The hybrid accords, camrys, and escapes still don't compare from the backseat.

This has the potential to be the next NYC taxi - don't forget the city mandate that they've all got to be hybrid (~2010??).

The crown vics make sense because they get the crap beaten out of them, they have super-low TCO, they ride like a boat (which is good for how cabies drive), and they have tons of space for the occupants.

Make it beat-the-crap-out-of reliable, comfortable for the driver and customers, and meet the hybrid-requirements and this is a perfect fit for the streets of Manhattan.

Kudos, Ford.

Just don't tease us with it. I'm not looking forward to being cramped in the back of Camrys and Accords for the foreseeable future. The Escapes are OK, but there's no reason a SUV has to be used as a taxi...ground clearance for what??

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Jeff says (July 25, 2008 at 10:57 am):

Reiterating: Put a gas/electric or diesel/electric hybrid engine in it, and watch it sell like hotcakes!

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silvalex says (May 23, 2008 at 4:02 pm):

Are you kidding? At $5 a gallon, who wants a diesel who isnt towing?

Josh says (July 15, 2008 at 1:12 am):

Well let's see if you drive 12000 miles a year and you want to know why diesel is more cost effective, here goes. If you use diesel you'll get 30mpg this info is from identical vehicles in foriegn countries. That equates to $1916 a year if you use diesel. Now for gas you would spend 2494 in a year. These figures are baded on $4.79 for Diesel, and $3.95 for gas. That's why it would be smart to use diesel over gas.

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Ray says (May 23, 2008 at 11:57 am):

Cool looking

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Jim Jaseck says (May 15, 2008 at 9:36 pm):

How about offering a Ford engine that runs on natural gas. Everybody keeps talking about diesels, ethanol and hybrid powered cars, but no one ever mentions natural gas. Natural gas fuel is cheap, environmentally clean and the technology is available NOW. Also it's the one natural resource available in North America that doesn't need to be imported. It would be the perfect choice for a New York taxi fleet that uses a central refueling station. At the present time, Honda is the only car company offering a natural gas powered engine option.

FFD says (August 8, 2008 at 4:23 pm):

NYC tried CNG taxis in the early 1990s. There were hundreds of Fords and Chevy CNG/gasoline yellow medallion taxis. Problem was there was no place to fuel them. There still isn’t. You have to fuel 13,OOO plus cars at least twice a day within a half hour. The oil/gas companies promised to provide the fueling infrastructure. They lied. The program died. At least with hybrids can be fueled anywhere.

bob says (May 21, 2008 at 4:16 pm):

The Standard Taxi will offer natural gas as an opption.

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Brockway says (April 23, 2008 at 9:25 am):

Ford - You ABSOLUTELY must bring over the diesel version! It gets WAY better mileage than the gas version and diesels tend to have a longer life.

I hope that Ford gets the message. This seems like a very good vehicle choice for a lot of people, but it could be a GREAT choice with the diesel.

I hope that this is the start of Ford bringing over other European models. The full size Transit would be great, along with the European Focus (The US Focus is a disgrace compared t that one), and the SMax van. All with the diesel engines. JUST BRING THEM OVER! Most of these vehicles get over 40mpg with the diesel. We need that TODAY, not several years from now. If Vokswagen and other companies can bring over their diesels, why not Ford?

tripleblack says (May 19, 2008 at 2:22 am):

I wanna see a clean diesel and AWD. This would be a great all weather delivery vehicle if it had the AWD system. but with such a low ground clearance you'd be hard pressed to get it through 8 inches of snow.

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Tina L. HUtchinson says (April 19, 2008 at 9:12 am):

The TAXI concept car is a pretty interestig idea, I defintly liked it much better in comparison to the Standard Taxi that was introduced recently. As a manager in the taxi buisness and the high cost of fuel, the 19mpg, with all the stop and go, that a taxi endures in a typical shift is very good!!! I just wonder how well the four-cylinder engine will live up to the Crown Vics

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Gar says (April 15, 2008 at 4:51 pm):

Transit Connect with a flex fuel engine based on Ecoboost, and a clean diesel optional, would sell like the 64 Mustang!

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Harvey says (April 8, 2008 at 11:51 am):

I currently own a 2006 F-150 with a camper top installed and truly love this vehicle--it suits my outdoor lifestyle (biking/kayaking/camping) almost perfectly -- sans the gas mileage---which isnt totally bad but...........with gas prices inevitably headed to 4 or 5 dollars a gallon---this vehicle is officially obsolete and I cannot do anything about it. So as soon as the Transit Connect goes on sale I am purchasing one. It will have a huge following with the outdoor crowd. We continually strive to find the "perfect vehicle"......only to find it doesnt exist. There is always an achilles heel for every vehicle---something that is not exactly right---whether its gas mileage--reliability--storage capacity--sleep in ability..etc....there is always one missing factor to the equation. Well I think this vehicle will be as close to perfect as I have found. The current favorite or standard favorite of the outdoor crowd is the VW van---namely camper version. However---they are insanely overpriced for even the most worn out ones that you can find...plus they are the poster child for unreliable service---I know I have had 2 and neither one was worth a dime...but I did sell them for more than they were worth!!! Anyway--long story longer.........I will be purchasing this vehicle as soon as it hits the market here in the US. I dont want to get rid of my F150 but I absolutely have no choice---Ford must realize that rising fuel prices will never support the vehicles of the old days (ie--now!) They must go for a total 180 degree shift and get on the fuel savings bandwagon or they perish in the annals of history. I love Ford--and I hope they will realize the market right now is wide open---just as it was when the built the Taurus and the Explorer---this is their opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade. Just stop letting the automotive magazines dictate design and power specifications for Pete's Sake!! Those idiots have ruined the car industry in America!!!!!!!!

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krister says (April 7, 2008 at 3:27 am):

i love ford and its very great car. put little bit more in the car

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NorthYork says (April 2, 2008 at 8:50 pm):

Bring it with Clean Diesel to Canada!!!

Ford has great diesel engines in Europe, is time to use them in North America :)

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diana says (April 2, 2008 at 9:39 am):

the desing is very ugly

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Brianm0122 says (April 1, 2008 at 10:50 am):

Put the hybrid drive in it and it's a winner.

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Vincenzo Delle Donne says (March 27, 2008 at 10:05 pm):

finally some in car truck industry is tacking a step to show people here in america that not every time large or very big is the best ,great job ford hope to see this vehicle soon in your dealers

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Rafa says (March 25, 2008 at 7:54 pm):

The Transit Connect taxi is a great idea and should be brought New York as soon as possible. Good job, Ford.

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