Ford's Transit Taxi To Connect Passengers Worldwide
With a few successes under Ford’s strap with the American buckle, the Blue Oval made be known its aspirations to go for the world championship belt in ferrying drunk revelers and harried air travelers with their Transit Connect Taxi in its debut in Hong Kong.
“Ford Transit Connect Taxi has proven itself in taxi fleets across the U.S.,” said Ford’s head of global product development Raj Nair in a statement. “Now, we are building on that success, offering the vehicle for sale in even more markets, including global cities like Hong Kong.” The taxi, set to go on sale in 2014 globally, will run off of Hong Kong’s liquefied petroleum gas infrastructure, an option that has been available since 2010 in the U.S. domestic market alongside compressed natural gas and gasoline.
Under the hood, a 2.5-liter engine attached to a six-speed automatic will keep things moving smoothly, or as smooth as driving (or riding in) a taxi can be, at least. The new taxi is longer than the previous domestic-only models, with seating for up to five and more room for the myriad of baggage travelers will be dragging tiredly behind them. The taxi is also shorter for more clearance for strip club adverts on the roof, with a lower floor allowing for easier access, especially if converted for wheelchair use.
In exchange for spreading the love of the Transit Connect Taxi around the world, Ford has plans to bring the Transit Connect Wagon from Europe to the United States for the 2014 model year. The people carrier holds seven, and sips down a gallon of fuel every 30 miles on the highway. Ford truck communications manager Mike Levine has high hopes for the newest addition to the family:
We believe there’s an opportunity. The Transit Connect Wagon is virtually the same size as seven-passenger minvans were when they were introduced in the 1980s. Since then, they’ve gotten too big, too expensive and consume too much fuel.
The Transit Connect Taxi currently serves markets in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, with the Blue Oval owning 60 percent of the taxi market. Ford offers the C-MAX Hybrid for taxi service, as well.
Photo credit: Ford
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"The Transit Connect Taxi currently serves markets in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, " I thought it is illegal in NY to drink Coca Cola and use Ford vehicles as a taxi. Isn't it Nissan that supposed to conquer the world as a taxi or it is only in Mayor Bloomberg's imagination (he has a good one though).
Scoutdude and DevilsRotary86 (RX-7 owner, by chance?) are right. Only medallion yellow taxis were supposed to be the Nissan NV200. Since the taxi commission's decree was overturned last month, all the interim choices are still valid until further notice. I live in Brooklyn very close to the Manhattan Bridge. Most of the new yellow taxis I see are the Fords, C-Max Hybrids and Transit Connect. The Camry Hybrid too, of course. I'm sure the Nissan NV, even though no longer NYC's "Taxi of Tomorrow," will show up on our streets before Thanksgiving. And hopefully not be a turkey.