FRIEZE NEW YORK 2013
INTERNATIONAL HOME + HOUSEWARES SHOW 2013
TOKYO DESIGN WEEK 2012
BEIJING DESIGN WEEK 2012
It's official: NYC's Taxi & Limousine Commission has voted Nissan's NV200 the "Taxi of Tomorrow," meaning hack fleets will be required by law to replace outgoing taxis with the chosen model.
The first NV200 cabs are expected to hit NYC streets in a year's time, at which point passengers will experience the roomier back seat, taller doors, higher head clearance and easier-to-load trunk featured in the boxy vehicle. The interior also boasts USB charging ports, passenger-activated climate controls, a tappable credit card reader and the de rigueur annoying flatscreen that I have to shut off to avoid getting carsick.
In the oddly silent video below, notice the vehicle uses sliding doors rather than swinging. At first I thought this would reduce the amount of bike accidents; I've seen it happen more than once where a careless passenger throws the door open without looking, causing a bicyclist to crash into it. But what I think will happen now is cyclists will crash directly into passengers exiting the cab. (I don't fault the design for this, I fault ignoramus passengers who don't look first.)
Comments
I went and had a look at the vehicle specs on the dedicated website for the new taxi. While the engine is classified as low-emission and higher efficiency, it seems like a wasted opportunity that these vehicles aren't hybrid, or even fully electric, given how many miles they do per year. They could have acted as a great casestudy for electric car manufacturers.
Interesting features with the USB and tap charge point though...
It looks remarkably like...a taxi :(
It is embarrassing that they did not make it ADA accessible. Even the London Black Taxis have a ramp for those in wheelchairs to roll right in.
As if it is not hard enough to get around NYC in a wheelchair already since most subway stations only have stairs and are therefore unusable not only by the disabled but also by a large percentage of the elderly.
People forget that being accessible isn't just for the disabled but also for the elderly, a very large part of our population that goes largely unnoticed.
All it would have required is that the bench seat for passengers be recessed towards the trunk to allow for the space to accomodate those with walkers, wheelchairs, etc.
It seems that the "taxi of tomorrow" is already the taxi of yesterday.
@Dan It's slated for electric 2017. Crossing finger that it happens.
http://www.treehugger.com/cars/nissan-nv200-to-become-new-york-citys-taxi-of-tomorrow-electric-version-in-2017.html
Why Nissan? they have the ugliest design language! it looks just like another bug.