Karsan V1 Leads the Race for New York's Next Taxi

If New York authorities had to name the winner of the Taxi of Tomorrow competition today, based on the choice made by New Yorkers, the winner's name would have been Karsan V1. A no name and, at the same time, a new comer to the very special taxi market when compared to its competitors, the Turkish vehicle managed to beat, in a survey conducted by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the Ford Transit Connect and the Nissan NV200.

Judging by the feedback we at autoevolution received from our readers, the results come as no surprise. But, since we all like numbers, let's see how many New Yorkers backed the Karsan and how many the other two vehicles.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission survey is probably the single one that matters, even if the Internet is swamped with different sites backing one model or another or just trying to generate their own numbers.

The official survey found that 66 percent of respondents (number not disclosed) fancied the Turkish purpose-built taxi. Surprisingly, the Nissan NV200 ranked second, with 44 percent of New Yorkers going for it. The Blue Oval Connect, a dull-looking model compared to either of its competitors, received the votes of only 38 percent of the future taxi customers.

According to Bloomberg, news of the Karsan being the favorite in the race to become the only taxi in New York in the next decade made the Turkish manufacturer's shares surge to a three-year high.

Karsan presented its vehicle to New Yorkers last week, as the only entry in the competition that has been purpose built for taxi work. The car can load and carry passengers in wheel chairs without having to be modified, unlike the vast majority of the models used today.