Ford Offers Pair of Taxis for 2019

Ford will offer two taxis in its 2019 model-year lineup, including a diesel-powered Transit Connect wagon and a Fusion Hybrid, Ford has announced.

The 2019 Transit Connect Taxi will be available with a new 1.5-liter EcoBlue diesel engine that could return a fuel economy rating of 30 mpg in highway driving, according to Ford, which will release fuel economy ratings in early 2019. The vehicle is based on the Transit Connect Wagon with seating for five and more than 60 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the second row.

It will also offer recessed second row seats, taxi wiring harness for upfitters, first-row side-curtain airbags, an optional roof hole for signage, and a reverse sensing system. It's available with School Bus Yellow paint, and will compete with the Nissan NV200 Taxi.

The Fusion Hybrid Taxi shares parts with the Police Responder Hybrid and should deliver about 40 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway.

It carries over the police-tuned suspension with increased ride height and high-performance brakes. Other equipment includes heavy-duty cloth seats, a standard rearview camera and a mounting plate on the instrument panel to secure taxi meters and other fleet equipment.

Ford has opened the ordering bank for both vehicles. They will go on sale by the end of the year.