Yellow Crown Victorias are as important to New York City culture as street corner hot dogs, thin crust pizza, and the Statue of Liberty. Good thing Ford doesn’t have anything to do with the last three or New Yorkers would be screwed. Unfortunately, the streets of New York, along with Police departments all across america, are soon going to be without the only good rear-wheel drive full-size sedan left in America. That’s because Ford isn’t going to make Crown Vics after 2011, and so the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission is looking for replacements.

While they are talking to several manufacturers, including Ford, who’s Transit Connect van thingy will undoubtedly be in the running, the Commission is holding a Taxi of Tomorrow competition. “We’ve received a number of proposals for electric, plug-in electric,
battery-switch electric and compressed natural gas vehicles. We are
looking very carefully at each of those technologies,” says New York
City Taxi & Limousine Commissioner David Yassky.
“It’s the culmination of a growing recognition that the Crown Victoria
has rendered great service for New Yorkers and visitors, but we can do
better.” By better, we think they also mean trendy. This is because the Commission has also stated that they want the new taxis to compliment the urban landscape, and make people think New York when they see them. 

Weird.

As a once frequent traveler to New York City, I can tell you that the best thing about cabs in New York is that they are everywhere, they are easy to spot, and they all look the same. The new ones are going to suck I’m sure. Especially if they make no noise, no exhaust and look like a shoebox. Who thought 20 years ago that we would ever be thinking about a Crown Vic as if it was some great styling or performance vehicle?

Weird.

For the full story from US Today, click here.

Wacky Ford Transit Connect Tax below. No bueno.

New York Taxi Cabs as they should be.