CityCab Makes Debut in Traffic-Plagued Paris

Motoring Channel Staff - 3/Oct/2006

Paris, France — As the University of Art and Design in Helsinki exclaims - the next generation taxi cab is here! 

Called the CityCab, this top-heavy vehicle was designed by University of Art and Design in Helsinki and was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show last week. It's creators say that public transportation in most metropolitan areas is fluent, but using a private passenger car is becoming more and more problematic and the need for more taxis may increase as the costs of owning a car continue to rise. 

The CityCab's designers believe that this raises the importance of a functional taxi system in the near future, where a traditional passenger car or a van transformed into a taxicab is not always the most convenient or appropriate solution. "What we need is a special vehicle similar to the London Cab, but redesigned and equipped with the latest technology," states the press release from the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. 

The group wants to share its view of the next generation metropolitan taxicab - the CityCab -  with the rest of the world, and Paris Motor Show is one of the best places to do it. Not only are the highly paid executives of the largest automakers present, but the French auto show will also see hundreds of thousands of showgoers through its hall, which means the company can gauge public interest in the new taxi design. It serves as a starting point for international discussion on what the passengers and drivers really want.

The design of the CityCab is based on a detailed passenger survey that listed passengers' wishes, and were then put into practice in the CityCab design. The CityCab is designed for five passengers with an option for one passenger using a wheel chair, and getting on the car is made simple via  the vehicle's air suspension system allows the floor level to be lowered to a desired height during a stop. 

Making the floor completely even and the entrance wider has facilitated the easy entrance even further, where the CityCab offers space, comfort and a luxurious leather interior turning the taxi ride into a more pleasant experience, while the car's futuristic and Japanese-inspired form gives the customer an idea of what's to come.

Visual design was a key part of the new CityCab for its industrious creators in Helsinki, but the group realised that a 21st century taxicab needs to be environmentally friendly and safe as well. As such, the CityCab's fuel consumption and emissions are both extremely low thanks to the hybrid powertrain supplied by Toyota, and also the vehicle's ultra-light body. The carbon fibre composite body manufactured using a novel "Sprint" technology, and weighs 75% less than a steel body while being more cost effective as well.

Customers usually spend very little time in a taxi but it's the cabdriver's workplace for the whole work shift, and the CityCab provides the driver with easy entrance, positive ergonomics and the latest specialty equipment integrated in the cockpit modules. For instance, servicing the customer is easy with all the computer equipment at hand, and on top of all this, the car is incredibly easy to handle: the CityCab's turning circle is only 6.9 metres, which is remarkable, as the front wheel drive car practically turns in its place thanks to its four wheel steering mechanism.

The groups behind the CityCab's design explains that the vehicle is not merely a prototype built into a show car. No, what you see here is a fully functional research vehicle whose functionality will be tested against other current alternatives in the taxi traffic of Helsinki metropolitan areas. Prior to this, it will be shown at international car shows where the vehicle's performance will be systematically evaluated from the standpoints of both customers and experts, which suggests that the vehicle's backers and investors have deep pockets if they can fly the vehicle all around the world for evaluation purposes. Perhaps we'll be seeing these odd vehicles sooner rather than later? For the time being though, CityCab is a non-commercial R&D project even though more than 40 companies are involved in the project. Helsinki Polytechnic, the project leader, has mentioned that it is willing to negotiate the commercial application of the work accomplished.