NEW YORK, Dec 20 — New York’s iconic yellow cab, the four-door sedan as symbolic of the Big Apple as black cabs are of London, is about to be phased out for wheelchair-accessible mini-vans. But lest the replacement offend stalwart New Yorkers, vans will be painted in the city’s trademark canary yellow.

Beginning next spring, retiring taxis will be replaced with the Nissan NV200, created specifically to shuttle riders across the city.

For example, the vehicle is built to soften the impact to a pedestrian if struck and is touted as the only taxi to leave the factory with installed partitions for increased safety and security.

After-market installations have been found to render safety features like airbags non-functional.

For passengers, the new minivan features more cargo room for luggage, and a USB charging port, as well as a 12-volt electrical outlet.

Sliding doors with lights are meant to lessen risk to pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists.

Likewise, passengers will be able to control the temperature themselves with independently controlled rear air-conditioning.

And active carbon-lined headliners, composite materials that adhere to the inside roof of cars, help neutralize questionable odours.

More than 500 Nissan NV2000 taxis are already up and running in New York City.

Old vehicles not replaced by hybrid taxis will be replaced by the Nissan vans. The wider roll-out will begin April 20, 2015. — AFP-Relaxnews