Standard Taxi: Purpose-built cab for North America
When we think of purpose-built taxis, only one brand comes to mind: LTI Limited, producers of the iconic London taxi. Their latest edition, the TXII, is highly versatile, offering features like a ramp for easy wheelchair access. In America, taxis are usually mid- to full-size sedans, though some large urban markets like New York City have seen a sprinkling of other vehicles such as SUVs and minivans enter their fleets.
Enter Standard Taxi, a Troy, Michigan-based outfit who is looking to do for the US what LTI has done in the UK: create a highly recognizable and enormously practical taxi specialized for North American use.
The recognizable part won't be an issue. The Standard Taxi looks like a compact armored car, with a tall, pedestrian-friendly nose, high roof, and a stubby rear that houses 26.7 cu. ft. of luggage space. Interior volume is 139 cu. ft. - on par with the Crown Vics passengers usually flag down when they need a ride. Unlike the venerable Crown Vic, however, the Standard Taxi seats four in the passenger compartment, something that hasn't been seen in a a reguler car-style taxi since the classic Checker cabs with their pair of jumpseats against the divider. The Standard Taxi accomplishes this by sealing off the driver's seat in it's own little box, opening up the rest of the car.
Follow the jump for more info on and photos of this proposed people mover.
Thanks for tip, Mark!
[Source: Standard Taxi]
The Standard Taxi also complies with American and Canadian standards for disabled individuals, providing wheelchair access to the passenger compartment via a standard recessed ramp. Power comes from a GM 4.3L V6 that's been prepared for the punishing daily grind taxicabs go through, and like the most popular livery cars in use today, it's rear-wheel drive. You can check out the car's full specs here.
Whether or not the Standard Taxi makes serious inroads in North America remains to be seen. At first glance, it seems like it might be a little low for pothole-ridden streets, terrain the big sedans navigate with relative ease. We're sure that's easily corrected. Other than that, it has the makings of a very serious contender. Come Q4 2007, taxi fleet operators may have another compelling option to choose from. In their eyes, this ugly duckling may look like a gorgeous yellow swan.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Donna S. 1:17AM (3/27/2008)
Any of you that think this is ugly, obviously have the use of you legs. For those of us that have to use a chair, this is a real blessing. Traveling is a nightmare when your in a chair. If you fly anywhere(and that's another problem for someone in a chair) you don't have a way to get to your destination unless you have someone pick you up that has a car equipped with your needs. I think this is great and I bet I am not the only one.
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Joern Napp 5:14AM (12/30/2008)
I am a Cabdriver myself, steering a car through Hamburg, Germany, since many years. Maybe 35 or so.
This Cab-Study is the best, I've ever seen so far, even compared with the London Cab, witch ist terrible for the driver and the customers too, in case, they are not so good on their feet. It's hard to get on your seat, but even harder, to get out of the car!
The 'Troy' ist one of the few vehicles, witch is constructed for the purpose! A car to work with! And to spend many hours inside, if you are the driver!
A taxi must give comfort ans space, not a beautifull design!
It must be build from inside out, not in the opposite direction like most cars! Like Mercedes, witch is in my country the most common taxi!
The customers will find out very soon the qualities of such a vehicle and will appriciate it instantly the first glance, when the take their seats!
The 'comments' hier are more than ignorant and a far cry from the praxis of a cabbie! I hope, that car will have a great future!
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Paqza 11:48AM (9/21/2006)
This is a joke, right?
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Jim 11:49AM (9/21/2006)
So they found my preschool sketches and are trying to make a profit off them? I'll sue their pants off!
I think this company may soon learn that Americans don't use the logic side of their brain all that much.
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J P 11:52AM (9/21/2006)
wow. do it.
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That One Person 12:03PM (9/21/2006)
WHile its butt ugly and looks like its made out of a refrigerator box, its pretty nifty. But I think it would be hard to convince cab companies to go from Crown Vics to this...
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exst 11:58AM (9/21/2006)
Hey look, its the car that i drew when i was 3!
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Allin 7:45PM (9/21/2006)
I could see private individuals who don't want to deal with minivan or bigger vehicles buying these for personal use in larger cities if warranty and repair is available. Price matters of course.
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AndyT 12:01PM (9/21/2006)
#3. Wow, I had no idea a 3-year old had the capacity to create someting so hideous.
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JK 12:02PM (9/21/2006)
Gross.
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Steve 4:18PM (9/21/2006)
So this is where all the Pontiac Azteks will be going!
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chuck goolsbee 12:03PM (9/21/2006)
#3, you beat me to it!
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rwdmtparkingonly 12:06PM (9/21/2006)
This thing looks horrible, peolple will think the passengers are on some kind of extra "special" "short bus."
If cabbies were willing to pay for new specialty cars then the guy that is importing a LHD TXII would be succesful. The TXII is actually cool looking and has the important stuff: body on frame, rwd, every body panel bolts on, and it's diesel.
Cabbies and their companies aren't willing to pay though. A new crown vic lwb version is probably 24K, and used cop cars are probably 10K, that's tough to compete against.
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Steve S 12:09PM (9/21/2006)
We have a wiener! Ugliest care ever made. Hands down. The pontiac Aztech is a work of art compared to this thing.
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Mike G 12:15PM (9/21/2006)
How about a DIESEL V6 powerplant so there would at least be some savings in fuel efficiency? There is no mention of price either, so why would cab companies purchase this thing when they already have cheap Crown Vics at their disposal? And yes, it's painfully ugly to look at. If this were Stalinist Russia maybe I could see it...
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Toby 7:42AM (9/22/2006)
That thing is HUGE. That is crazy. The "Black cab" does this job better.
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Adam Singer 12:19PM (9/21/2006)
Anyone else think that this looks like what a taxi cab would like if Russia decided to build one?
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Adam Singer 12:20PM (9/21/2006)
Anyone else think that this looks like what a taxi cab would like if the Russians tried to built one?
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mb 12:23PM (9/21/2006)
Takes ulgy to a whole new level.
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BLS 12:34PM (9/21/2006)
Question? ("Yes Dwight")
Why is body on frame, RWD important in a taxi. Is it yor longevity of the fleet? They must put on a couple hundred thousand miles in no time. I don't know how many miles a Crown Vic is good for but I can't imagine the car falling appart before the Engine/Transmission etc goes out and is to expensive to replace when as you guys have pointed out the Taxi companies are getting them for dirt cheap.
But it is pitifully ugly as you pointed out the Spanish compressed air powered car is a masterpiece compared to this.
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