Meet the all-new 2014 Transit Connect Taxi — a vehicle that, over the next several years, has the potential to become as ubiquitous as the Crown Victoria or Grand Marquee taxi cabs in cities across the nation. The new commercial people-carrier was unveiled at the 2013 International Association of Transportation Regulators Conference in St. Louis, and provides best-in-class performance, lower operating costs, and improved comfort and flexibility, according to Ford.
Based on Ford’s global C vehicle architecture shared with the Focus, Kuga, and C-Max, the 2014 Transit Connect Taxi comes with the 2.5 liter four cylinder Duratec engine mated to Ford’s PowerShift twin-clutch transmission. The powertrain combination is engineered to provide drivers with quick response as well as durability, low-rpm cruising and an expected best-in-class highway fuel economy rating. In addition, the Transit Connect Taxi will be the only taxi offered with a compressed natural gas/liquefied petroleum gas engine prep package, with Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifiers carrying out the CNG/LPG conversion.
Compared to the Transit Connect Taxi it replaces, the new model features a plethora of improvements, including:
- Increased overall length providing seating for five and increased cargo capacity.
- A lower vehicle floor for improved access to the cabin. The floor can be modified to be wheelchair-accessible through Ford’s Qualified Vehicle Modifier program.
- A roomy and flexible interior that is perfectly suited for livery service and conversion to CNG and LPG, with cargo space being able to accommodate a compressed gas tank while leaving ample room for luggage and passenger headroom and legroom.
- Anticipated best-in-class 60.5 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the second row.
- A modern and durable twist-beam rear suspension setup that provides superior passenger comfort and cargo carrying capability compared to an offering offered by “a competitor”, which uses a rear suspension with leaf springs and a solid rear axle.
- Upgraded interior technology, with useful amenities like a rear view camera, 6.5-inch touch-screen display with navigation, and the SYNC with MyFord Touch infotainment system.
- A hood release in the interior to give drivers easy access to check fluid levels prior to starting a shift.
- A decreased vehicle height for improved clearance for taxicab companies to place advertising on the cabin roof.
The Transit Connect Taxi has undergone Ford’s rigorous testing and durability evaluations. One of these tests included opening and closing the van’s sliding doors through 250,000 door-slam cycles. The vehicle will go into production at Ford’s plant in Valencia, Spain and arrive in dealerships by early 2014.
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