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CityCab: The Futures Purpose-Built Taxi

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

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

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

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

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

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

can lower the ride height to enable wheelchairs to enter and exit without ramps.

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