CityCab Study May Herald a More Interesting Future for Taxi Design

PARIS — Accompanied by a hilarious video featuring mime artists showcasing the virtues of the vehicle, the Finnish industrial design students presented their latest project, the CityCab.

Toyota supported Finnish Helsinki Polytechnic in the design study by providing the hybrid powertrain of the Prius. Other sponsors participated by donating carbon-fiber composite material for the body. Even the glass was custom made.

The video on the CityCab Web site highlights how easy it is to get in and out of the CityCab. Four-wheel steering also makes the little car easy to maneuver.

Since the late 1990s, Finnish Helsinki Polytechnic students have come up with almost a dozen prototypes, including four different versions of a roadster, a rebodied trash carrier vehicle and junior racing cars.

Although the CityCab is a prototype, it is fully functional. Depending on public reaction and the appearance of potential partner, a limited production run is not outside the realm of possibility.

© Source: original article on insideline