NYC's Big Yellow Taxi Soon a Turkish Delight?

[Eric K. Washington]

New York City's iconic big yellow taxi may soon drive both visitors and residents into dervish ecstasy. The Taxi & Limousine Commission just released its Taxi of Tomorrow survey and, in the humble opinion of 22,000 polled, the Karsan V1, a Turkish-made hybrid car, ought to rule the road.

 

Big Apple residents who took the taxi-design survey brushed off two other finalist entries by Ford and Nissan. Evidently, thumbs went up instead for the futuristic Karsan V1's unique panoramic glass sunroof "for better views of the city” and its ample legroom for “four passengers seated in the same compartment.” Other surveys and public hearings were said to indicate that the car’s unprecedented compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for handicapped accessibility also made it a popular choice.

 

According to information from PRWeb, Karsan took the challenge of the Taxi of Tomorrow requirements to make a purpose-built taxi—the first in NYC's history—rather than to retrofit an existing sedan or van. Whichever winner of the bid—to be imminently decided upon—that company will gain "exclusive selling rights to the New York City taxi market for a ten year period, an estimated 2,650 vehicles per year."

 

The new fleet of yellow taxis should all be phased in by 2014, as the retiring cars are bid a resounding hail and farewell.

 

[Eric K. Washington]

Here's a follow-up on NYC's final decision for its new fleet of taxis. The city announced today that the "Taxi of Tomorrow" honor will go to Japanese automaker Nissan, thus rejecting the high-contending Turkish company Karsan. Taxi of Tomorrow (Huffington Post story)

 

 

[Eric K. Washington]

David, a Taxi & Limousine Commission spokesperson did follow up on my call about the survey. He reiterated that "it is far from a done deal!" The Commission will ultimately decide the winning car company, and has not yet fixed an announcement date.

[Eric K. Washington]

My understanding of the story is that the survey is a formal weigh-in of public opinion, akin to a public hearing, indicating a probable deal. The media has been talking up the front-runner status of the Turkish design for several months now. But I'll try to keep my eyes and ears open for the TLC's official word.

[David Lawrence]

Great looking car but does this survey mean that this is a done deal?