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NYC's Taxi Fleet To Feature Lexus Hybrids by 2012

Agent009 submitted on 5/22/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 4:09:38 PM

28 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: news.yahoo.com

The city's yellow taxi fleet will go entirely hybrid within five years, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Tuesday.



"There's an awful lot of taxicabs on the streets of New York City," Bloomberg said. "These cars just sit there in traffic sometimes, belching fumes.

"This does a lot less. It's a lot better for all of us," he said of the hybrid plan.

Nearly 400 fuel-efficient hybrids have been tested in the city's taxi fleet over the past 18 months, with models including the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h and the Ford Escape.



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NYC's Taxi Fleet To Feature Lexus Hybrids by 2012

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Agent009

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User Comments

mxrxk

Your title is a little off base Agent 009. The article is talking about the push for more hybrids taxis in NYC, not just featuring Lexus hybrids. Always trying throw fuel on the fire with your biased titles.

— mxrxk (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 4:28:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

no1listensanyway

Yeah seriously 009, you are just looking for problems here.

— no1listensanyway (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 4:44:29 PM | | Votes: 5   

SupraNeverBack

009's title engineering skill has become worse...

— SupraNeverBack (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 5:48:50 PM | | Votes: 5   

Agent009

Lexus is obviously included as part of the featured mix so the title is correct.

But how is this a negative? Sometimes I think you guys look for things.

Try looking at life without a chip on your shoulder.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2007 11:11:01 AM | | Votes: 1   

Lem1972

I think overall it's a good plan. But if I were Lexus, I wouldn't allow any Lexus models to be used as a taxi. The Toyota Highlander or Prius maybe, but absolutely nothing from Lexus. I think you end up diluting the value of the brand.

— Lem1972 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 4:46:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

mp2dtw

Are you sure it would dilute the brand image? I've seen lots of Mercedes taxis and it didn't do anything to my opinion of Mercedes.

— mp2dtw (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 7:34:57 PM | | Votes: 5   

rg12345

I am sure it WILL. It's already happening with so many toyotas looking like lexus from more than 30 feet away. I see so many lexus cars around every day in front of me ... when I get closer they are toyota. Lexus didn't get it yet .. bad for them, good for toyoyoyoyta owners. I would feel bad to have a lexus right now.

— rg12345 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2007 10:54:30 AM | | Votes: 2   

Agent009

They already are out there. I actually rode in a Lexus RX Taxi (non hybrid) in Honolulu last month. This is a good PR move for them.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2007 11:12:17 AM | | Votes: 1   

SupraNeverBack

Why didn't they plan to use Diesels? ^0^

— SupraNeverBack (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 5:46:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Will_

They shouldn't paint them yellow though. They should paint them all bright green or something...

— Will_ (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 6:21:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

S4cabriofoxone

Why aren't you whining about how this will "dillute" Lexus's brand image, like it does to MERCEDES? I don't hear that now, do I? I wonder why?!

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 12:18:58 AM | | Votes: 2   

huu76

I doubt they'll use Lexus cars simply because of cost, my guess is they'll use the Camry-hybrid.

The should've highlighted the part about there being 0 emissions w/ a hybrid when they sit in gridlock.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 7:18:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Autophile

You're right sailor, hybrids just aren't the magic cure they seem to be. I hope we can get hydrogen powered taxis, that way New York streets will be constantly "wet" from the H20 emissions. Maybe all that water will help to wash away some of the human fluid waste that makes the city smell oh so pungient.

— Autophile (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 7:24:41 PM | | Votes: 3   

CarFreak

Here in NYC We already have some of the Ford escapes and the Toyota Camry's on the streets and I see more every day! This is a good move for the city and If they want to use kLexuses for cabs I'm all for it! Makes my ridr more comfortable when I'm drunk and need a ride home from the bar:)

— CarFreak (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 7:31:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

huu76

Wow, the Prius has 0 emissions when it stops too. What's the BMW's emissions when its moving? Are any BMW diesel/gas engines cleaner than the 1.5L in the Prius?

By 2012, HSD3 will be half way through its lifecycle.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 7:34:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

jj84

Actually, there are already two RX400h's in the NYC fleet.

http://www.nysun.com/article/47923

— jj84 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 9:16:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

t_bone

I read that the hybrids practically pay for themselves in brake replacement costs. Too bad there are no full-sized sedan or minvan alternatives; the SUV platform dilutes the benefits a bit.

— t_bone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 10:51:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Matthew1

Of course, I replace my brakes every 2 months....

*rolls eyes*

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2007 1:49:41 AM | | Votes: 3   

Homer008

Germancar fans/anti hybrid kids..how do you sleep at night after talking so much trash after trash about how wonderful Diesels are and how awful hybrids really is? All of you were always wrong as you can see. Hybrids are coming and its here to stay, kids!
Bravo to Toyota fans!



— Homer008 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/22/2007 11:13:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

EL34

Lexus hybrid Taxi's with those tiny little trunks?

That's a real dome scratcher!

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2007 12:21:27 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

rg12345

Stupid taxis ... with huge engines and huge consume .. for the driving they do they should stick to a 2.0 diesel engine, you get more than enough power for a city driving and you still get 30-40mpg. Europe it's 10 times smarter. Hybrid sucks right now, maybe in the future.... maybe not.

— rg12345 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2007 10:51:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Rupert

London Cabs have like 90 hp, and they're diesel. Hybrids are a good move for cities though, but still, diesel hybrids would be better.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2007 11:29:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

nembogt

Actually, they already have Lexus hybrids. I have even seen Camry hybrids and Escape hybrids and natural gas crown vics. I remember the good ole' days with big american gas guzzlers as taxis like 5 yrs ago!!

— nembogt (View Profile)

Posted on 5/23/2007 11:56:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

S4cabriofoxone

There are a couple RX400h taxis in NYC, but the last time I was there, I didn't see any. I did see plenty of Escape Hybrids, though.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 12:20:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

huu76

Being 100% dependent on Russian and Middle Eastern oil is smart alright, especially when they rely on another country to secure it.

I drove behind a Beetle TDI lastnight and I can't believe how bad they smell (and you morons think iddling behind a car like this is good for your health). Euro perceived superiority is nothing more than a hallucination brought on by diesel fumes.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2007 11:52:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

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