Big Yellow Taxi

America's Checker cabs used to be as much a landmark in its cities as the London taxi is over here.

Sadly, they've slowly died off and been replaced by mundane saloons in lurid yellow paint jobs.

But a new company based in Michigan is setting out to change that and reintroduce a purpose-built cab for the Yanks.

Called the Standard Taxi, it has all the style and grace of a crumpled cardboard box, which is a shame when the old Checker was as curvy as Marilyn Monroe.

However, the Standard Taxi is more user friendly and is designed to carry four people and allow easy access for wheelchairs.

There's a huge boot, or 'trunk' as the American would have it, and plenty of space and comfort for the driver.

Under the bonnet is a 4.3-litre V6 engine from GM that has been retuned to 'taxi spec', so don't expect any Checker-style V8 rumbles from the exhausts.

Standard Taxi expects to start full production towards the end of 2007 and roll out its new cab across the US.

© Source: original article on topgear