2008 Ford Transit Connect Taxi Concept U.S. Heritage Fleet Member

Ford’s U.S. Heritage Fleet serves as a living archive of the automaker’s concept vehicles, including far-out models like the Ford Super Duty based “Ford Bronco” concept, but the collection isn’t entirely populated by concepts that never made it to reality. One such true-to-life model is the 2008 Ford Transit Connect taxi concept, which currently resides as part of the fleet, an avant-garde testament to the small but mighty van.

The 2008 Ford Transit Connect taxi concept was revealed at the 2008 New York International Auto Show as a “fresh take on taxis.” It was billed as a cleaner, more spacious alternative to existing taxis, built on a dedicated commercial platform. Its turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine and automatic transmission ensured a smooth, efficient ride, delivering 19 mpg city and 90 percent lower tailpipe emissions than many taxis on the market at the time.

The Transit Connect was built “up,” delivering more room for passengers and their cargo. It was able to accommodate three rear-cab passengers and 75 cubic feet of parcels, its upright design “emulating the city skyline around it.” It also featured 6.5 inches of ground clearance, enabling passengers to simply step down from the sliding doors and into the cab instead of sliding across the back seat. It featured a high roofline and vista roof, opening up the interior even more.

Electronic infotainment and navigation systems displayed accumulating cab fare, along with live news, sports, and weather. Its 13-inch touchscreen was cutting-edge at the time, allowing passengers to brows music and video stations, too. It even featured a workstation for busy travelers, giving them access to a mobile office between destinations.

“Taxis are an important part of the urban landscape, and the Transit Connect Taxi concept represents a potential game-changer, given its small footprint, comfortable, spacious interior, fuel-efficient engine and affordability,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas.

While this Transit Connect taxi concept never made it to production, a second-gen variant of the high-profile van was produced for city taxi fleets.

The 2008 Ford Transit Connect taxi concept is joined by a number of Ford what-ifs, including the 2005 Ford Fairlane, several Ford Bronco concepts, the 1999 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning,