Core77

The Design Trust for Public Space's Taxi 07 project will finally show some fruits of labor at this year's International Auto Show at the Javits Center in NYC (running in conjunction with NYC Taxi Week from April 6 - 15). The design team, led by Smart Design, and including Antenna Design and Birsel + Seck, took results from research and user testing in safety, social interaction, and sustainability to maximize comfort, accessibility, and efficiency in the new 2007 Kia Rondo taxi experience.

You can expect to see a new seating plan that is socially sensible for both drivers and passengers, an integrated child booster seat, all-access elevator seat, better lighting, re-styled mirrors and seat elts, and sustainable tweaks like better mileage, integrated ozone scrubber and non-vinyl upholstery. Sounds quite promising, however we won't mind at all if they decide to throw in a city-savvy driver as an afterthought (wink, wink).