Nissan NV200 Chosen as New York's Next Taxi

2.0 four? Sounds like the Sentra engine, sturdy but hardly frugal on gas. Still, this will be way more economical than Crown Vickies around town, and cabbies won't have to bend to load / unload suitcases. Ford Transit was my top choice, but this will do.

I was totally expecting the Ford Transit to win this. I have to scratch my head on this as it wouldn't have been my first choice. But I guess it's up to the citizens of NY and cab drivers to really make the determination on if this is the right choice.

So the NYC cab commission can award an exclusive contract... but NYC can't set fuel economy targets for taxis?

^^ Yes. one has nothing to do with the other. The Commission (sounds like the mob, I know) have had this power for years. They control who gets a medallion to operate a yellow cab.

that front bumper does not jibe well with the grille and lights. looks tacked on. i guess for NYC's extra bumping and ramming needs.

Needs larger rear windows (not that NY taxi drivers ever look back).

Not sure if I understand this right but there is only one cab company in New York and some government group gets to tell them what they can drive?

Sounds very un-American.

We have lots of cab companies in Vancouver and they drive whatever works best (mostly Priuses now).

The good - vans make the most sense, and it seems like Nissan included a lot of thoughtful touches for rear passengers. Plus a 2.0L I-4 sounds pretty economical (CVT?).

I expected something more obviously green (flex fuel, diesel, hybrid, natural gas, something) in the powertrain department. Stop-start technology in particular seems pretty appropriate for this application. And pop-off wheelcovers have always seemed like a waste.

The good - vans make the most sense, and it seems like Nissan included a lot of thoughtful touches for rear passengers. Plus a 2.0L I-4 sounds pretty economical (CVT?).

I expected something more obviously green (flex fuel, diesel, hybrid, natural gas, something) in the powertrain department. Stop-start technology in particular seems pretty appropriate for this application. And pop-off wheelcovers have always seemed like a waste.

I, for one, am looking forward to the easter egg hunts for abandoned Nissan taxi hub caps that will likely be littering the streets nearby to every pothole in the city.

I'm a Ford fan, but those specs and features sure do sound nice. Congrats to Nissan.

What "mozzz77788" said.

Yep, . . . it's yellow . . .

They could have opted for an American brand cough (Ford Transit) to support the American Economy. Asking myself questions if Nissan is the right choice for New York taxis

I'd think an American brand would have looked better. However, Nissan is building this in Mexico and finishing it in the NY area. The Turkey company promised to build theirs in Brooklyn, but didn't convince anyone they could get it up and running in 2 years. Ford planned to build theirs overseas. None of the choices really would have helped Americans out.

The Nissan was a good choice because its designed so they can swap in an electric powertrain in a few years.

wow, this is just fucking stupid. Why a shity japanese car? why not a good american car. OUR economy here in america needs to seriously be improved and one of the ways of doing that is helping out OUR american car companies instead buying all these shity toyotas and Nissans.

The central planners in New York are virtually ignorant of the power of a free market. The cab owners and companies should be able to make their own choice; not the city elitists.

Id hate to sound like one of those professional Americans or an ignorant single minded brand lover but.... Why is a Aisan auto makers (made in friggen Mexico) ugily ass van the offical taxi of NYC? What was wrong with the Ford anyways? Its the same thing as the Nissan but it would be easier to pry cab drivers out of Crown Vics if they could go back to another Ford. It just seems wrong in every single way

Looks about as inviting as a casket…sure the features are there but It looks like some something more suited to transportation produce. I’d feel like I had a barcode tattooed on my forehead in this. It better come with limo tint.

Sorry, not sure what happened to that above post of mine.., but I'm sure my point will get across

I wish it were more unique-looking, like the old Checker or a London cab. Apart from that, it will be good to get the gas-guzzling Crown Vics off the streets. I think we can also expect less accidents in NYC involving cabs, especially in snowy weather. Most of the drivers come from places where it has never snowed. Putting them behind the wheel of rear-drive, V8 torque-monsters never made much sense from a safety perspective. I'd also appreciate a device installed which would prohibit those famous kamikaze lane changes. That's asking too much, though.

I think it's extemely unique looking. I've never seen anything looking like that on the roads here.

It doesn't look vintage like the London cab or Checker but that's good. Time to move on.

Still seems odd to be for a commission to have this much control but it will create a symbol for New York.

Wait a second. Wasn't the Turkish outfit prepared to build their cab in Brooklyn or the Bronx? NYC decides to award the contract to Nissan who is going to build them in Mexico? WTF??? What the hell were Bloomberg and his staff thinking? I'll let this go when Mexico City decides to replace their entire fleet of bugs (cabs) with vehicles made in the USA.

$30k? Is that a misprint??

Good choice. Looks extremely practical and Nissan is a well established brand in the US market... a known quantity. Unfortunately, the Ford does not have enough rear seat leg room and I think this really hurt it's chances.

TERRIBLE CHOICE!!!!! NYC Taxis are an icon since the Checkers which were nowhere to be found but in NYC. The Crown Vic is an american representative car, only to be found in the USA (OK, also in Mexico & Canada, but not in such a number). I can´t imagine the city of Tokyo using Mercedes Benz or Ford as a Taxi, but I think maybe that´s becuase europeans & asians are used to protect their economy and brands. Unfornately the USA hasn´t learned that yet. I can´t imagine something more pathetic than looking the Empire State building surrounded by this Nissan trash. This choice is nothing, but an insult to NYC. Is like if London suddenly decided buying any chinese car as their Taxis.

$337 Million of US money going to Japan and Mexico.

Thanks NY, for giving back to America after we bailed your bankers out.

I'm embarassed, but not suprised.

For those who don't know, Ford is going to build the Transit in the USA starting in 2012. Frankly, given the availability of it, a natural gas powered version of this would have been obvious, given the disparity between natural gas to gasoline, both from cost and pollution.

That is until you pick up a customer at JFK with 1/3 a tank of CNG and they ask you drive them way out in long island where there is no CNG stations... great choice. Like your customer will want to wait while you go back to the depot to refuel.

That is until you pick up a customer at JFK with 1/3 a tank of CNG and they ask you drive them way out in long island where there is no CNG stations... great choice. Like your customer will want to wait while you go back to the depot to refuel. A taxi is not the same as a Bus route.