the taxi of tomorrow shouldn't exist, period.

Dangerous, expensive and a poor solution to urban transportation.

Where is the survey reflecting the preferences of the taxi owners and operators?

Their job is to drive, not to choose. If they don't like driving what they are given, they can find another job. Less amount of lunatics on the street. I also hope they they put a speed limiter in these things so the lunatics can't go do 60 while they are within manhattan avenues. When they get on highway, they can do 60 then. Or something of that sort. Like not being able to steer left or right unless they have the turn signal on. LOL. I like the complete glass encapsulation of the driver, we won't have to hear them yapping on their cellphone.

Taxi OWNERS should have no choice but buy the vehicle that THE RIDERS choose? Idiotic.
It is their business, they are the ones that are responsible for buying and maintaining the vehicle. Owners and operators have a far, FAR deeper understanding of what they NEED and want in their vehicle.
In your world some jerk on the upper east side that never even owned a car knows better that people who operate a taxi for a living? Get real.
‘Passengers' job is to ride, not to choose.'

Is it just me, or does this look a lot like Johnny Cab from Total Recall?

awesome, the only design with doors that swing open instead of slide. guess the taxi's aren't going to be safer for some road users