JANUARY 5, 2009 • 25 PHILIP MEECH Hailing a new taxi vehicle at the Paris auto show. The debuted at Europe’s big autumn show. Ford exec J Mays introduced the Transit Connect Taxi in New York — the nation’s taxicab capital. But the cab’s estimated fuel economy fell well below the Big Apple’s target for taxis starting this year. Auto shows Glitz and glamour still could be found at the world’s major venues PHILIP MEECH Small car and big dogs Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally and Executive Chairman Bill Ford posed in front of the Verve concept small car during the Detroit auto show. In this case, concept became reality — somewhat — when Ford announced a North American lineup of small cars for 2010 that will include the Fiesta, a sedan based on the Verve. Birth of the Nano Ratan Tata’s unveiling of the $2,500 Tata Nano minicar in January at the Auto Expo in New Delhi was the most publicized launch of 2008.