It’s very much part of the city’s fabric, New York’s Ford Crown Victoria yellow cabs are, but the iconic vehicles are being phased out, and its next generation replacement will be … a Nissan NV200.
According to reports, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that Nissan has won the Taxi of Tomorrow competition, which sought to find the next-gen NYC cab – the result means that the Japanese automaker has exclusive rights to provide the replacement for the more than 13,000 yellow taxis that work the city.
Nissan submitted a version of its NV200 for the competition. The NV200, which isn’t currently sold in the US, edged out the Ford Transit Connect and another competing entry from Karsan, a Turkish automaker.
The first Nissan NV200 cabs are slated to enter service towards the end of 2013 and will be phased in over five years as the Crown Victorias, which make up 90% of the city’s cab fleet, are slowly replaced.
The choice is already generating some controversy – large taxi fleet owners are saying they don’t want to be stuck using only one model. Meanwhile, advocates for the disabled are opposing any vehicle that isn’t wheelchair accessible, which only the Karsan entry was at the point of competition.
But while the NV200’s looks isn’t its strongest point, the vehicle – to be built in Mexico – offers plenty of room and its 2.0 litre engine will offer it good fuel efficiency, something the Crown Vic isn’t exactly famous for.
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nippon all the way…..
Too Bad !! Not Hanguk ;-(
Perodua Alza front.
Hmm.. Nissan for NYC iconic yellow cab.
Not Ford, Not GM.
Luckily it’s Not Hyundai/Kia too or else those “Bragger” will start their Nongak Drum Dance.
our country will use exora soon!!
Nissan Vannette?
Yup.. that’s the new gen Vanette.
Those tiny steelies (15 inch?) seem a bit underwhelmed for NYC notorious potholes. The NV200 had better to be as tough as Ford Crown Vics.
It’s not like you can go at faster than 20-30miles per hour down 5th Avenue. It’ll probably scare the horses providing tourist rides around Central Park. At this rate, I’d have expected electric vehicles or at least hybrids (the Ford Escapes are in use, and one recently completed a cross-country drive to LA from NYC) – would be more appropriate.
Then again, these won’t be beating the Ford Crown Victorias for high speed dashes between La Guardia Airport And JFK.
Yeah, why didn’t they at least make it hybrid? Or LNG/CNG?
The Crown Victorias made great police chase cars too. :-)
I want Nissan NV200 (new Vanette) to be sold in Malaysia, and I don’t want to see old Vanettes!!! I need a new Vanette (NV200)!!!
they still see vanette?
i tot they replace it with urvan already
American are getting fatter…too happy on osama news perhaps. This big taxi might fit only 2 american only one in the 2nd row and one on the third row.
Why people replace their cabs already, ours majority still stuck with the same old car? Use newer cars like Persona or Saga BLM lar. dun just change a few only, overhual the entire fleet. Many of the old Iswara’s condition are disgusting.
i feel our taxis should be exoras with the rear seat taken out. maybe put a 2.0 litre engine in it and run it on NGV (we’ll probably still have space for lugguage). and paint them in the old yellow top black bottom cab colour
Better used crown comfort like those Japanese, Singaporean and Hong Kong lar