At February's Chicago Auto Show, Ford unveiled its plans to bring its European Transit Connect van to the U.S. in mid 2009 and used the show to highlight the vehicle's versatility for a variety of business purposes. Add taxi to the list of Transit Connect's potential uses here in the States, with a special livery of the van debuting this week in the Big Apple -- the nation's No. 1 taxi town. Ford is already one of the leading suppliers of taxis with its Crown Victoria sedan, which is a staple of taxi fleets countrywide.
The Transit Connect Taxi concept makes sense as a potential replacement for the Crown Vic, with its high roof, ample rear space for tourist luggage and three passengers, and its relatively frugal 2.0-liter four banger rated at 19 mpg city with lower tailpipe emissions than most present taxis.