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NYC approves Ford Transit Connect for taxi fleet

New York signed off on the Ford Transit Connect to be used for taxi service, paving the way for the nation's largest city to begin switching to the small van in place of the aging Crown Victoria. The move was announced Thursday after a public hearing; New York joins Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago on the list of major cities that have approved the vehicle for taxi service. The Transit Connect (and Taurus sedan) is approved for use now, but a Nissan van will become the exclusive vehicle in 2013.

Kia Picanto wins design award

Kia's growing design prowess isn't going unnoticed. The firm's latest prize comes from the iF design awards, for the three-door Picanto. The award recognizes design quality alongside a number of other criteria, including workmanship, innovation and eco-friendliness.

Lord Sugar leads roadworks campaign

THE GOVERNMENT is to look at the better coordination of roadworks by utility companies after complaints by peers. Labour's Lord Sugar led the call for action at question time in the Lords with support from Tory former chancellor Lord Lamont of Lerwick. Lord Sugar, star of BBC television's The Apprentice show, urged "commonsense coordination" between the gas, electricity, water and telecoms companies.