Boston has become the first city in the United States to approve the Ford Transit Connect for use as a taxi.
Scheduled to hit the streets of Beantown later this year, Ford says the taxi version of the small van will deliver 30-percent better fuel mileage than conventional full-sized, car-based taxis. With a high roof, dual sliding passenger doors, and generous interior room for its relatively small footprint, the Transit Connect makes a logical choice for taxi use. Whether it will prove sufficiently rugged for taxi duty in major cities remains to be seen, but the Transit Connect has served as a commercial workhorse in Europe for many years.
Changes from the stock model include additional wiring for signage and other taxi needs, vinyl flooring and seats front and rear, and third-row windows in place of steel panels.
The Transit Connect Taxi will be powered by the same 136-hp, 2.0-liter gasoline-powered four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission used in all Transit Connects sold in the United States. Ford also plans to offer conversion kits to allow it to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied propane gas (LPG). Transit Connects are available in other markets with diesel power, but Ford has not announced plans to market a diesel version here. An all-electric model is planned to be ready for sale to commercial fleets this fall, but there's no word if an electric taxi is coming.
With the ubiquitous Ford Crown Victoria scheduled to go out of production next year, taxi fleets across the country will soon be looking for a replacement for the millions of Crown Vics currently in service. And something with more room, fuel economy, and a smaller footprint might be just the ticket.
Don't be surprised if you see a Transit Connect done up in taxi livery in your neighborhood soon.
Jim Travers
