This is Kia’s entry into Taxi ’07, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the modern-day taxi in New York City. Kia worked with a consortium of NYC-based design firms led by Smart Design to build two Rondo taxi prototypes. A more legible taxi roof light was developed, which quickly communicates the cabs availability in a variety of lighting situations.
On the interior, there is an L-shaped partition to protect the driver while creating a more open social environment for the passengers. There are also accessibility features for those with impaired mobility – a Bruno motorized front passenger seat.
More photos after the jump.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
I think this is the new Kia Carens izzit? Wow looks cool in Yellow.. And i wonder what engine is inside? V6? Paul, can tell us more spec of this cute little Taxi?
it has the look
damn, this taxi is even better than my proton car.
citra?
Nice cap,especially the taxi roof light
better than london city cab.
Where's the spinners, and the neon light, and the loud speakers??
Future is no fun…..
better than the ambassador car that is built by an indian car manufacturer…..that is based on the morris …hmmmm forgot bout the mane oredy…hehehe =)
Nice interior design. I wonder if the brittle-looking L-shaped partition can really "protect" the driver.
It is called Kia Rondo, this car just launched in US few months ago, maybe it has different name in asia.
Full of functionality, especially the wing mirrors on the passenger doors! Hope it doesn't become standard equipment in future cars too hehe, it's useful, but not nice looking.
The passenger's wing mirror is a nice touch for a taxi. We can see what's coming before opening the door now. That"ll make sure no kapcai will crash into an open taxi door.. but the roof light is tad ugly. They should have design a better looking electronic board. That one looks like a road sign stuck on a car roof.
This is the new Kia Carens, already available in here in brunei last February
the L-shaped partition is neat. Should be mandatorily installed in our local taxis in the wake of cases involving taxi drivers-cum rapists/robbers.
I think this is the KIA Carens, renamed as Rondo for US market perhaps. MPV-like taxis are becoming a popular trend, and it could replace sedan taxis in future. Of course, there would be some people who prefer to be driven with a limo sedan.
Just like in Malaysia KLIA, where Daewoo Tacumas replaced the old Wiras.
wahlaueh…
hybrid of Wish & carens… anyway it's a good looking cab. I wonder will NAZA upgrade current Citra to this latest version of carens…
Nice taxi.
Shall we replaced all our iswara taxi with this one..
Wow Kia scores big this time. Very nice! I wonder if the space will be an issue – westerners are generally big-sized and the leg room doesn't seem promising, especially with the driver's protection enclosure.
The nifty touches like side mirror and other stuff are real neat and thoughtful and practical. I love it!!
the shape look gd………but how about the spec look like????
New carens…just new rear lights? Well its better than those old Toyota Crowns and old Mercs running on the street
No way for our local taxis to be like this… after 2-3 months, it will dirty/smelly as hell!
nice one! should be lucky to be a newyorker taxi driver…