New York City residents and tourists should prepare for a different sight on the city streets in the near future, as the town's iconic taxis are set to be replaced by new vans.

The office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently held a design contest to determine what model would become the city's new official taxi. Most cabbies used old Ford Crown Victoria models, which needed to be replaced by roomier, more fuel-efficient models. Automakers from around the globe entered the design contest, but when all was said and done, it was the Nissan NV2000 that ended up on top.

Nissan's van design held off challenges from the Ford TransitConnect and an unorthodox model submitted by the Turkish company Karsan. The new model features seating for four plus luggage, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a transparent roof that makes sightseeing a snap.

The NV200 is currently available in Europe and Asia. Nissan will be building the taxi version in Mexico for import to the U.S. No word yet on whether the model will be available in non-taxi version.

"The NV200 taxi will give Nissan the opportunity to showcase our dedication to vehicle quality and urban mobility to more than 600,000 passengers every day," said Nissan chairman Carlos Tavares.

Drivers interested in a used Nissan or any other vehicle may want to check out New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide range of cars for sale at affordable prices.