Kia Rondo Taxi Concept Preview – 2007 New York Auto Show: Anyone unfortunate enough to use cabs on a regular basis knows what a treat it is to get into a taxi that is clean and odor-free – you don’t want the ride to end. At the 2007 New York International Auto Show, the city’s Design Trust for Public Space invited several automakers to design taxi cabs that improve upon the usual recipe in terms of accessibility, safety, fuel economy, and other factors. Kia spiffed up its handy new Rondo for the competition, and the best thing about it? It’s clean and odor-free.

Kia’s new Rondo would make a great taxi, except for the fact that cabbies tend to prefer body-on-frame, rear-drive construction for durability reasons. A front-drive Kia Rondo, as roomy as it might be inside, might not last as long as the typical Ford Crown Vic or Chrysler 300 on the mean streets of New York.

Dipped in DuPont Yellow paint, the Kia Rondo cab includes updated New York City taxi graphics for a sophisticated and modern look and an improved roof light with what Kia says is “enhanced vehicle information.” In addition to whether or not the Rondo Taxi is available for a fare, we hope the roof light gives some indication about whether it’s clean inside.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe Concept

The Koreans rustle themselves up a rear-drive pony car. Hyundais nothing if not ambitious. What else but ambition could turn a company known only for shoddily m...

2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia - Previews

In case the F430 wasnt fast (or good) enough. The great thing about the 430 Scuderiaa faster, lighter, and even more compelling version of the F430 is that Ferr...

2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid Preview

Mercury's new 2006 Mariner Hybrid is what most people would consider to be a no-brainer. Fundamentally identical to the Ford Escape, which is available with a g...

2005 Mercury Mariner Preview

NEW YORK CITY, NY - Mercury is hurting. With the departure of the Cougar sport coupe and Villager minivan, the brand was down to four relatively undistinguished...

2005 Mercury Montego Preview

Mercury lands squarely on the family car game board with the 2005 Montego, the first competitive sedan for the company to sell since the original Sable debuted ...