Autoblog

Nissan shows New Yorkers the inside of its new taxi

Noah Joseph — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty

If you lined up all the taxis in New York, they'd stretch all the way from Wall Street to Norwalk, Connecticut. They shuttle some 236 million passengers around the city every year - about 600,000 every day - and in the process, they travel the equivalent of 20,000 times around the world every year. Those are staggering numbers, to be sure, so when the city's taxi and limousine department put out the tender for its "Taxi of Tomorrow," it was an ambitious - and important - project.

Nissan's NV200 bid ended up getting the contract (although other manufacturers have since gained approval as well. We've already seen what the van-based shuttler will look like from the curb, but a taxi cab certainly isn't about exterior styling. Like a certain Arabian beggar in a Disney movie, it's what's inside that counts. And that's just what Nissan is demonstrating with a special exposition in New York.

Opening tomorrow on the pedestrian plaza across from the iconic Flatiron Building at Broadway and Fifth, Nissan's Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo will showcase the full interior of the NV200 Taxi. The cab is accessed via sliding doors (for easier ingress and egress in the city's tight spaces), a panorama roof to let tourists enjoy the upwards view (real New Yorkers, of course, never look up), a flat floor, a large cargo area for luggage, USB charging outlet, easily cleanable surfaces and an air-filtration and climate-control system independent of the driver's.

Sounds to us like a nice place in which to cruise around the city, at least while all that stuff is still in working order. But don't take our word for it: check out the high-res images in the gallery for a closer look - including a nifty infographic on taxi usage in the city - and the details in the press release after the jump. Or if you're in the area, stop by the expo from Tuesday through Saturday of this week.

Continue reading Nissan shows New Yorkers the inside of its new taxi

Nissan shows New Yorkers the inside of its new taxi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NY legislature green lights plan to let pedestrians hail livery cabs from street

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:20:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

It took more than a couple of legal strategems, but New York City's mayor Michael Bloomberg has outwitted the city's powerful yellow taxi lobby. The State Legislature passed a bill making it legal for New Yorkers to hail livery cabs from the street. What's a livery cab? It's a private taxi, unmarked, often a Town Car, usually found in areas in and outside of Manhattan that aren't well served by yellow taxis. They don't run on meters, either; a fare is agreed upon between the rider and driver.

It is illegal for livery cabs to pick up 'street hails,' as they're called, and the yellow taxi industry wants to keep it that way. Blooomberg has been trying to get that changed, and did so by circumventing the City Council, which has usually supported the taxi industry. Assuming governor Cuomo signs the bill into law and it sticks, livery cabs would need to buy medallions and be fitted with roof signs, fare meters and GPS trackers, and be painted in specific colors to denote their role. And there are still places, like Midtown and the Financial District, where they would be forbidden from picking up fares.

Livery-cab trips would also come with a $0.50-cent surcharge, the money going to support mass transit. But neither that nor the possibility of more taxi service for more NYC residents has kept the yellow taxi industry from howling, with a representative saying it "will stop at nothing" to protect its interests.

NY legislature green lights plan to let pedestrians hail livery cabs from street originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

3-Way Street shows how dangerous a NYC intersection can be

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

3-Way Street - Click above to watch video after the jump

At any given moment, the scene at a random intersection in New York City can be a picture of controlled chaos. Motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians come together en masse as millions of folks go about their daily Big Apple routines. Artist Ron Gabriel decided to capture this bit of everyday mayhem, and trained a camera on one NYC intersection. The resulting video is called 3-Way Street, and shows just how crazy our various modes of transportation can be when converging in one area.

This isn't about one group of folks being more dangerous than another. It's clear that some motorists, cyclists and pedestrians either aren't paying attention or like to take big chances. Gabriel has stated that the video isn't designed to pick out one section of a problem, but to show that it takes all sections of the problem if change is to take place.

That would be one hefty movement, since Gabriel points out that this is just one of 12,370 intersections in NYC.

Click past the jump to watch 3-Way Street, and check out the artist's statement on the video.

Continue reading 3-Way Street shows how dangerous a NYC intersection can be

3-Way Street shows how dangerous a NYC intersection can be originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NYC seeks Taxi of Tomorrow; is UniCab the answer?

Autoblog Staff — Mon, 31 May 2010 16:54:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Work, Specialty, Design/Style

A couple of years have passed now since the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced its search for a vehicle that would replace the taxis of New York City with something that better fits the times. The TLC created a website for creative types to submit ideas for the "Taxi of Tomorrow," and one of the more interesting proposals to come in over the last couple of years is something called the UniCab.

The groundwork for NYC's Taxi of Tomorrow is quite simple:

Meets highest safety standards
Superior passenger experience
Superior driver comfort and amenities
Appropriate purchase price and ongoing maintenance and repair costs
Smaller environmental footprint (lower emissions and improved fuel economy)
Smaller physical footprint (with more usable interior room)
Compliance with appropriate Americans with Disabilities Act requirements
Iconic design that will identify the new taxi with New York City

Born out of those guidelines, the UniCab looks nothing like a traditional taxi, aside from the yellow color. The UniCab features seating for four passengers, an automated ramp for those with disabilities, an infotainment center that displays intended routes and attractions along the way and outward sight lines that allow all of the passengers to get a great view of the glorious city of New York. Though nothing more than a design sketch right now, the UniCab could change our perception of taxis in the future and make hailing a cab the hip, green thing to do. Hat tip to Zelda!

[Source: The Taxi of Tomorrow]

NYC seeks Taxi of Tomorrow; is UniCab the answer? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 May 2010 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

FAIL: Multi-level Parking in NYC

John Neff — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Etc.

Click above for high-res image gallery

We saw plenty of these multi-level parking structures during our trip to NYC this past week, and even commented on how their space efficiency would work well in our own cities where giant parking garages dominate the landscape. Perhaps we spoke too soon.

Autoblog reader Mel spotted this scene just around the corner from the Jacob Javits Center where the 2009 New York Auto Show is being held. The multi-level steel parking structure evidently failed, sending a Lexus GS sliding down on top of a Land Rover and the front end of an also-raised Honda Accord. The kicker? A 1998 Chrysler Town and Country and older Camry sit just outside the frame unscathed. The Ford Edge that just happened to be parked on the right (both figuratively and literally) side of the structure was reportedly inaccessible by its owner despite not playing a part in this mess. Whoever was in charge apparently felt the whole thing might go at any minute. You know what, New York? Us smaller cities will keep our concrete parking garages, thank you very much. Thanks for the tip, Mel!

Gallery: FAIL: Multi-Level Parking in NYC

FAIL: Multi-level Parking in NYC originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NYC cabbies threaten September strike over GPS

Alex Nunez — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:47:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

With the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission's October 1 compliance date for installation of GPS-equipped information and payment systems in New York's 13,000 taxis, a driver's advocacy group is gearing up to strike in protest. The source of the controversy is the screen above. The system provides riders with useful info like news and weather, as well as credit card payment functionality and the ability to watch the route the taxi is taking to its destination in real-time. We tried it out during the New York Auto show and found it to be pretty cool and easy-to-use. For tourists, it's a nice setup. The only negative observation our driver made when we asked him his opinion of it was that the system didn't take well to fast inputs when in payment mode. Slower, deliberate taps on the touchscreen worked better.

According to the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a non-union group representing drivers' interests, the GPS-based systems are a bad thing, and it claims that its 8,400 members will go on strike September 1 if the TLC doesn't put the kibosh on its fleetwide GPS plan. The organization claims that the systems overreach and are an invasion of drivers' privacy -- a sort of "Big Brother" that'll be used to track cabbies whereabouts at all times. The TLC notes that there are several benefits to drivers in addition to the added functionality it gives riders. Pick-ups and drop-offs are automatically recorded, eliminating the pencil-and-paper system used up until now. Also, drivers will be able to receive real-time traffic info and will gain a measure of protection against the criminals who sometimes prey upon taxi drivers. The GPS should help police track down cars in distress and nab the perpetrators in these situations. Lastly, the TLC says that drivers in cars equipped with the systems already make 18% more in tips. That tidbit has not been part the NYTWA's talking points. According to the TLC, most operators (73%) have already chosen a system ahead of the 10/1 date, anyway. Still, it looks like a showdown between the the TLC and Taxi Workers Alliance is imminent, as the TLC is very unlikely to back down. Whether or not the dustup will actually amount to anything significant remains to be seen.

[Sources: NY1, Newsday via Engadget]

NYC cabbies threaten September strike over GPS originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NYC Taxi medallion sold for record $600,000

Alex Nunez — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Forget the stock market. If you're in the possession of a NYC taxi medallion, you're sitting on a goldmine. A retiring Pakistani driver who'd been driving a cab in New York for the last 25 years sold his medallion Wednesday for a staggering $600,000 -- an all-time record for such a sale. The medallion, which gives cab drivers the right to operate legally in the city, cost $30,000 when it was purchased in 1981. The new owner is a taxi fleet operator who already owns somewhere around 100 medallions.

Prices have been steadily rising in recent years, and at the last city-held auction, medallions fetched upwards of $500K. Experts feel that the city could bring values down to a more realistic level -- around $300,000 -- if they added 5000 new ones to the pool. Until that happens (if it happens at all), expect to see more astronomical sale values as medallions change hands. There's a limited number of the things out there, and right now, the demand appears to be off the charts.

At this rate, it's probably just a matter of time before we see a reality show about this. Flip This Medallion, anyone?

We covered one of last year's big-money medallion cars here.

[Source: NY Post, via GM Inside News]

NYC Taxi medallion sold for record $600,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mayor Mike readies $8 congestion fee for NYC drivers

Alex Nunez — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:36:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

New York's mayor, Mike Bloomberg, is ready to steal a page from his London counterpart's handbook and announce plans to hit drivers who bring their cars into Manhattan below 86th street with an $8 congestion charge in a bid to ease gridlock in the city's crowded midtown business district. The fee would include the existing bridge and tunnel tolls drivers currently have to pay. Some people are understandably upset, and opposition groups are said to be forming in the outer boroughs.

Naturally, there will be exceptions. Taxis are unlikely to pay the fee, and there's word that drivers who avoid the business district while heading to other parts of the city could be exempt as well. The report also mentions possible discounts for individuals who live and/or work in the impacted zone. Mayor Bloomberg is expected to detail the specifics of his proposal in a speech he's giving tomorrow, and we'll follow up after we've heard all the particulars.

If the mayor does set the plan into motion, it'll need to be improved by the state legislature, meaning those of us (ahem) in the NYC media market are going to have the opportunity to watch the political fireworks unfold during the local evening newscasts. This is gonna get interesting.

UPDATE 4/22: Ahead of today's speech, WNYC (New York Public Radio) reported that drivers who use the FDR drive and West Side Highway would be exempted from the fee. The mayor stated as much in his weekly radio program on WABC. More on the proposal as we get the info.

[Source: WCBS TV, New York]

Mayor Mike readies $8 congestion fee for NYC drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New York Auto Show: It's donktacular! RIDES does up a taxi, skyscraper style

Eric Bryant — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:54:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Etc.

Say that you're RIDES Magazine and you want to celebrate the 100th anniversary of taxi cab service in New York City - what to do? Simple - take a 1996 Crown Vic (arguably better looking than Ford's current take on the Panther platform), put a lift on it that shames many custom pickups, and shove a set of Pirelli-shod 30" MHT wheels under it. Not included is the milkcrate you'll need to stand on in order to enter the beast.

Now, we realize that this probably isn't a proper "donk" to most folks (and those that specifically associate the name with mid-70s Caprices are particularly likely to be offended by using the name to describe a Crown Vic), but this thing seems to defy any other name - well, at least any name that's suitable to print. No word yet on whether it'll be whisking us away from the Javits convention center tomorrow night, but such a scenario isn't out of the question - the nine-foot-tall ride is said to wear an official NYC taxi medallion.

[Source: RIDES, Jalopnik]

New York Auto Show: It's donktacular! RIDES does up a taxi, skyscraper style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Photos from Audi's parade on Park Avenue

John Neff — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Audi, Misc. Auto Shows

UPDATE: Photos added from Neal M. and dc, play-by-play account from Ahmed
UPDATE 2: Video of the Auto Union Type D on the street after the jump

This morning New Yorkers on their way to work were greeted with Audi's Park Avenue parade that marked the R8's first official drive on U.S. soil and the opening of the company's new Audi Forum located at 250 Park Avenue. Autoblog reader Ahmed M. was on hand and armed with a camera phone. He sent us these pics of the R8, R10 Le Mans racer and 1938 Auto Union Type D Silver Arrow, the latter of which was one of the world's first mid-engined racecars. NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg was reportedly on hand to deliver the R8 to the Forum, which is not a dealership but rather a brand awareness space that will educate New Yorkers on the Audi experience and can also host events up to 150 people.

If any other readers were present and have pictures they'd like to share, specifically of the Forum itself, send them to abresearch at gmail dot com and we'll post them here.

Check out Ahmed's play-by-play account of the parade after the jump near the bottom of the page.

Continue reading Photos from Audi's parade on Park Avenue

Photos from Audi's parade on Park Avenue originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Oct 2006 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi planning parade on Park Avenue

John Neff — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 13:26:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Performance, Supercars, Audi

We feel lucky having been one of a relatively small group of people to see the Audi R8 in person at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. We won't feel so special after next Wednesday, however, when Audi is planning a parade in the Big Apple that will be lead by the company's new two-seat, mid-engine road rocket. Millions of New Yorkers will be able to catch a glimpse of the R8 leading a pack of Audis that also includes the R10 TDI racecar currently dominating the American Le Mans Series and a 1938 Auto Union Type D Silver Arrow, which represents the line of world's first mid-engined racecars. Why all the hubbub? The celebration commemorates the opening of the newly created Audi Forum New York City, which is not exactly a dealership but what the marketing folk call a "brand awareness venue".

If you're in the area, the procession's going to begin at 10AM EST next Wednesday and start at 52th and Park Avenue. The cars will be flanked by New York City's finest as they drive down to 47th where they'll be parked outside the new Audi Forum NYC for people to inspect. Expect a few celebrities to be present, and supposedly some will be commissioned to drive the vehicles, as well. The occasion will technically mark the first time a production R8 has been seen outside in open air, although we've seen plenty of uncamouflaged mules the last few months. If you're planning to attend, takes pics and send them to abresearch at gmail dot com.

[Source: Fourtitude]

Audi planning parade on Park Avenue originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Oct 2006 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lithium PT Cruiser taxi cabs planned for NYC

John Neff — Tue, 16 May 2006 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Green, Chrysler

It seem like the most suitable laboratory for testing an advanced propulsion system is the engine bay of a New York City taxi cab, just ask Ford. Hybrid Technolgies has announced it is in negotiations with the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commision to get its lithium-ion battery-powered PT Cruisers on the streets of NYC ASAP. PTCruizer.com reports the electric cabs will sport a 600-pound, 320V battery pack that can go through 1,500 charges with a range of 150 miles between each plug-in. Cabbies can expect a downtime of six hours between charges. While each EV PT will cost between $50K and $75K, estimated fuel cost savings could amount to $15,000/year. We'll have to wait and see how these EVs hold up to NYC's tough durability test.

[Source: Hybrid Technologies and PTCruizer.com]

Lithium PT Cruiser taxi cabs planned for NYC originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 May 2006 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Segway rolling around New York Auto Show

Joel Arellano — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Trends, Hybrid, Etc., Technology

If you're tired of walking and really don't want to risk a heart attack in one of the Big Apple's (in)famous taxi cabs--assuming you can hail one--Segway is offering an alternative.

Segways, those two-wheel motorized vehicles, will be available for demonstration at the show. The linked article cites the benefits of a Segway such as low maintenance and operating costs. Did you know it only costs 10 cents to fully charge the electric battery, which means the Segway provides 390 miles of operation for the cost of a single gallon of gas. Its tires have a 5,000 miles range. It also has an electronic key start so no one can steal your Segway from the bike rack.

Other advantages and contact information while in NYC can be found at the link.

[Source: PR Web via eMediaWire]

Segway rolling around New York Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Apr 2006 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Crazy BABE seeks bangers to mash from Big Apple to New Orleans

Chris Paukert — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Trends, Etc.

National road rallies are nothing new for North American enthusiasts. Brock Yates' Cannonball Run offshoot, the One Lap Of America has been plugging away in earnest for decades now. But for those without big budgets, trans-continental automotive hooliganism has remained somewhat less accessible.

Enter the BABE, or BigApple2BigEasy. Basically, it's a 'run whatcha brung' event from NYC to New Orleans on public roads. The catch? Competitors can only spend the princely sum of $250 on a vehicle. In other words, expect a parade of bangers, heaps, jalopies, junkers, and the stray basketcase.

The four-day event will be interspersed with 'challenges' which will likely take the form of scavenger hunts and the like. The event is not a race (Gumballers need not apply), but it is scored, and there are awards. The top team takes home $1,500, with the second place team netting $350, and the third-place finishers putting a $150 dent in their gas receipts/future chiropractor bills.

Trophies to be awarded will include 'Team to Hitchhike the Farthest' and 'Most Creative Repair Job.' Participating hoopties must be ~~forklifted~~ registered by April 30th, and the BABE requires a $250 entry fee.

Sounds like fun to us.

[Sources: BABE and IMCDB.org]

Crazy BABE seeks bangers to mash from Big Apple to New Orleans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments