Nissan 'Taxi of Tomorrow' Previewed: Paris Motor Show
Among the many cars soon to sit in garages around the globe, Nissan had a different kind of common car parked at its Paris pavilion today: the “Taxi of Tomorrow.”
Officially voted in as the newly exclusive taxi for New York City last week, Nissan’s new taxi will undergo testing fully equipped – a first for the city. Despite being a drastic departure from the Crown Victoria cabs many people probably still associate with the Big Apple, the Japanese people carrier will do more than change the city’s fleet.
Just by being a van, for example, the city’s fleet will grow increasingly wheelchair accessible every time a cab retires. That’s because rather than adding the vans all at once, Nissan has exclusive rights to provide the city’s taxis for the next decade.
Other innovative features will also improve both driver and passenger experiences. A transparent roof panel offers views of the city’s sky scrapers while en route. The vehicle’s sliding doors will also reduce risks in busy traffic scenarios. It also comes with a “low-annoyance horn” that flashes the car’s lights while honking to make it more effective.
Passengers will enjoy independently-controlled rear air conditioning, while the drivers benefit from a driver-passenger intercom system and a six-way adjustable seat specially designed to improve air flow. Both passenger and driver cabins also have charging outlets for mobile devices too.
And of course, the car is powered by a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that will reduce carbon emissions in a city that sorely needs less pollution.
GALLERY: Nissan NV Taxi
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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Only hybrid cabs make sense