NEW YORK, May 3 --- A minivan-like Nissan will replace the ubiquitous Ford Crown Victoria as the official New York city taxicab, beginning in late 2013.
The choice of the NV200, as it is officially called, was announced by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission at a City Hall press briefing today.
The NV200 will be a modified version of the compact commercial vehicle now available in Japan, Europe and China.
It will be built at the Nissan plant in Cuernavaca, Mexico and will have a suggested retail price of about $29,000.
Here are many of the main features that are planned for the new cab;
--- A 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine designed to maximize fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
--- Room for four passengers and their luggage.
--- Sliding doors with entry step and grab handles.
--- Independently controlled rear air conditioning.
--- Environmentally friendly, easy-to-clean upholstery.
--- Overhead reading lights for passengers and floor lighting to help locate belongings.
--- A mobile charging station for passengers that will include a 12-volt electrical outlet and two USB plugs.
--- Standard driver's navigation and communication system.
--- Traction and stability control.
Durability was a main concern. More than 13,000 cabs travel a total of 500 million miles each year on New York's rutted and pockmarked streets.
The selection of the NV200 is the culmination of a competition resulting from a set of goals determined by cab owners, drivers and passengers to determine the "Taxi of Tomorrow." It will be the official cab for 10 years. The other finalists were Ford Motor Co. and Karsan, a Turkish vehicle manufacturer.
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