2014 Nissan NV200 Taxi
Our favorite feature of Nissan’s new NV200 taxi? The low-annoyance horn. This castrated sound emitter is accompanied by an exterior light that illuminates to tattle on the driver to nearby honkees. We anticipate many cabbies will “forget” to replace the bulbs once they burn out.
On the eve of the 2012 New York auto show, Nissan is introducing Big Apple residents to their new car. The NV200, as you may recall, was chosen as New York City’s Taxi of Tomorrow, meaning that anyone who wants to put a new taxi into service there will need to buy one of these babies. By Nissan’s calculations, switching the city’s fleet from Crown Vics to NV200s will give back five acres in the form of vacated roadway. Nissan will also sell a commercial version of the NV200 van and is considering an electric version, too.
Look Up, Look Out, Look Who’s Honking Now
The second-row seats three-total passenger count is four, including the unlucky guy who has to sit up front-and the surfaces are covered in leather-look vinyl that’s supposed to be antimicrobial. The driver’s seat is covered in cloth that’s supposed to promote ventilation. We’ll leave that one alone.
In addition to the low-annoyance horn, passengers will appreciate a charging station for their electronics, including one 12-volt outlet and a pair of USB ports. A transparent panel lets those in the rear take in the city’s verticality, and the headliner uses active carbon to trap interior odors. No word on how long it will take to fill with said odors. Rear-seat passengers get their own climate-control zone.
There’s also a light to alert those nearby when the doors are opening, the necessity of which is lessened by the sliding doors diminished ability to take out passing bike messengers.
Don’t Forget the Cabbie
Your friendly cabbie will appreciate the NV200 taxi’s standard navigation system and rearview camera-although we can’t remember the last time we were in a cab that had to back up. Motivation comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder of unknown output. But, hey, who really cares? We’re going to guess it’s “enough.” Taxis aren’t supposed to be quick anyway.
The estimated base price of New York’s new cab is $29,700. City dwellers will probably be more concerned with when it’s set to hit the streets: Nissan expects an on-duty date beginning in 2013.
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