CityCab: The Futures Purpose-Built Taxi

Photos

It might not be the prettiest design, but the CityCab was purpose-designed to be an effective taxi. (Photo: Helsinki Polytechnic)

Easy access is one of the key criteria; low floor maximized by air suspension. (Photo: Helsinki Polytechnic)

Flat floor and tall shape give plenty of interior space. (Photo: Helsinki Polytechnic)

Toyota HSD makes CityCab efficient; four wheel steering makes it nimble. (Photo: Helsinki Polytechnic)

Could CityCab be the Worlds Next Taxi?

Every country has its hallmark taxi cab - Americas got its yellow Checker,
Chevy Caprice or Ford Crown Victoria, Germany has its beige Mercedes-Benz diesels, and if youve frequented England (especially London), you cant have missed the oddity that is the Black Cab (LTI TXII). However, a group of Finnish design students think that the modern taxi cab ought to be something different, a purpose-designed vehicle that takes into consideration the driver as well as the passenger. What theyve come up with is an innovative design project called the CityCab, which was shown for the first time at this years Paris autoshow.

Designed and developed by Helsinki Polytechnic and the University of Art and Design Helsinki with the help of 40 different companies, the CityCab is a completely non-commercial research project. Its fundamentally different than most other vehicles shown at the Paris show in that it was designed as a commercial use vehicle with the passenger and the operator of foremost importance.

Its a vehicle whose form truly follows function. Inspired by none other than Londons Black Cab, the CityCab is a truly odd looking vehicle, with an organic looking nose and tail, plus a very upright cabin. This design conforms to the passenger compartment, enabling five - or four and a wheelchair - to be comfortably carried on board with extremely easy entry and exit. Like some modern transit vehicles, the CityCab rides on an air suspension system which can lower the ride height to enable wheelchairs to enter and exit without ramps.

Impressed? So far, this is just the beginning. The unibody frame of the CityCab is not made from conventional metal, but from carbon fiber, a material normally reserved for high-end supercars. This enables the CityCabs frame to be 75-percent lighter than its steel equivalent, all while being more rigid. The issue of cost has also been solved by an innovative construction method called SPRINT, which makes its production competitive to normal methods.

In terms of its drivetrain, the CityCab is not only quiet, but its also green, as it utilizes Toyotas much lauded Hyrbid Synergy Drive system for motivation. The lightweight design of the vehicle means that it doesnt need as much power, further cutting back on emissions and fuel consumption. Besides spending less time (and money) at the pump, the CityCab also has a tight turning circle of 22.6 feet, made possible by its four-wheel steering system!

So far, the CityCab has plenty to offer clients of taxi services; a silent ride, easy access with plenty of head and legroom, plus the luxury of plush leather seating. Drivers should also be pleased, because aside from being easy to pilot in the tightest of spaces the CityCab comes equipped with all the latest gizmos and gadgets youd find in a normal luxury car, including automatic climate control and an all-important navigation system.

The CityCab isnt just a concept vehicle, but a fully operation car that will begin its testing phase shortly in metropolitan areas around Helsinki.