Autoblog

Try as we might, we could not find the punchline to this bit of news, so we're going to run with it. Nissan is creating a Murano convertible, supposedly for empty nesters who want a side dish of top down to go with space for the kids and grandkids. Should such a thing occur, it will be searing your retinas as of 2010.

Nothing is slated to change on the car except the use of a soft-top convertible, even less trunk space, and most likely, the price. To see the rendering, if Nissan simply took the top off, the car might be a little bulbous but acceptable. If Nissan were to use a rollhoop, however... that means they're making a PT Cruiser with a higher seating position. And, as far as we're concerned, that just ain't cool... Thanks for the tip, Cory!

[Source: Inside Line]

While most of the attention Nissan has been getting recently revolves around the GT-R sportscar, its bread-and-butter models, like the Sentra S and the new Murano, have gotten slight bumps in price. The compact sedan sees an increase from $16,930, which included a $660 destination charge to $17,030, including a higher $695 destination charge. The Murano was just redesigned and launched with a mildly lowered price for this model year. Not so much anymore, as it now jumps to $29,250, including a slightly raised $780 destination charge.

In addition to these incremental sticker price adjustments, Nissan has announced a mild increase to the destination charges for all of its 2008 and 2009 model-year vehicles carrying Nissan or Infiniti badges. Though Nissan has yet to comment on the reason for the price hikes, we'd imagine that the weak U.S. dollar and high fuel prices undoubtedly play a part in both the base price bump and the associated destination charge increases.


[Source: Inside Line]

Click above for hi-res gallery of the X-by-Wire EA2 Concept

Nissan showed off a drive-by-wire concept that wasn't about touting the technology itself, but the space and features you could get back because of it. By fitting a steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, and shift-by-wire systems, 11 centimeters of extra space was added to the cabin which allowed for a third row of seats in the rear of this Murano-based concept. The room came from pushing the wheels out to the far corners, which could be safely done without sacrificing vehicle dynamics due to the lack of mechanical linkages.

The small, race-style steering wheel needs less turning input, and the column can be tilted up completely out of the way. The center tunnel has become a beautifully finished control panel that gently arcs up to greet the driver. When you don't need it, it can also be folded back over itself creating even more space in the front area. When I did, the swath of empty space between the front seats was so inviting I almost wanted to take a nap.

The Nissan R&D engineer with the vehicle said that there were no plans to put the technology into any products right now. But it is being studied, especially one of the main issues -- as with all drive-by-wire systems -- the implementation of redundant systems.

You can check out the Nissan 360 event site for more details on the EA2 concept and all the vehicles in Nissan's lineup. In the mean time, be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res photos below.


Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.

As every automaker knows, new models aren't without their growing pains. Aside from all the other issues to contend with while launching a new vehicle, there's always the possibility that something is going to go amiss after deliveries begin. Such is the case with Nissan, who just informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that 11,511 2009 Nissan Muranos and 4,854 2009 Infiniti EX35s have to be recalled to fix a problem with the passenger airbag. While we may fondly look back to the days when such issues could be resolved with some chicken wire and electrical tape, the airbag problem should be an easy fix since it's due to incorrectly programmed software. We're assuming it won't be more than some kind of reflash of the computer, but for those of you rolling in one Nissanfiniti's new 'utes, you might want to give your dealer a call so the person to your right has a better chance of leaving unscathed if the unthinkable happens.

Also, check out our recently published reviews of both the 2009 Nissan Murano and 2008 Infiniti EX35.



[Source: Detroit News]

click above for more images from our first drive of the 2009 Nissan Murano

Nissan's original Murano was a successful and difficult act to follow. The elder statesman of crossover utility vehicles saw its sales increase every year since it was introduced in 2003, but with the segment going from crowded to standing room only, Nissan realized changes were needed to compete.

"Murano-ness" – that's what Jarrad Haslam, Nissan's product planner for crossovers, said the company insisted be preserved in the new version. Nissan invited us to Atlanta to sample this almost-totally-new Murano for 2009. You'll recognize the distinctive rounded nose, sharply-raked windshield, the side glass kicked up over the rear fender, a smallish rear hatch window topped by a sliver of a spoiler, and a lower rear bumper accentuated by dual exhaust outlets. But put the 2007 and 2009 (the Murano sat out the 2008 model year) side by side, and the differences become evident.

Continue reading about our first drive of the 2009 Nissan Murano after the jump.




Live Photos Copyright ©2008 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc.

To go with its newly trimmed styling, Nissan has treated the Murano's price to a nip and tuck, too. The 2009 model has had $1500 removed from the MSRP across all trim levels, and a new dual panel moonroof makes the options list along with three new exterior colors. Inside, the seats and instrument panel have been redesigned to improve the atmosphere. Among the multitude of luxury and convenience options, a hard-drive equipped Bose Music Box stereo is available if you opt for the navigation system.

The Murano now rides on the new D platform that underpins the Altima, and the mighty VQ serves up 265 horsepower from its 3.5 liters, a 25 pony increase. The sole transmission is the XTronic CVT, sending torque to either the front wheels, or through all four. The revised platform is solid and sure-footed in our experience with recent Altimas. An S FWD model will buy you entry to the Murano club for $26,330. AWD bumps the price to 27,930, and you can keep adding stuff until you've got the pretty much loaded LE AWD, which starts at $35,910. It's still a Murano, with all of the polarizing style that comes with the name. You might end up with a "tastes great, less filling" type of argument when talking with owners of the original Murano, but this one sweetens the pot with a lot of revisions and a better chassis, new fascia haters be damned. Press release after the jump.

[Source: Nissan]

Gallery: 2009 Nissan Murano

Click image for photo gallery

Ahead of its planned LA Auto Show debut, Nissan's 2009 Murano is doing the sneak preview thing courtesy of the NICOclub forums where these pics originated. They've since been posted on GM Inside News and FreshAlloy.com, as well. Clearly not wanting to mess with success, the CUV's general overall shape, as well as that of its side glass, is fundamentally the same. The '09 gets more muscular, Rogue-ish wheel flares, taillamps that extend into the rear hatch, and a new front end that makes silver Muranos look kinda like the updated Cylon centurions from Battlestar Galactica. We don't get a good view of the passenger cabin, other than to see a panoramic roof is obviously an option. Hopefully the current car's chintzy-looking gauge cluster got flushed in the revamp, too.

[Source: NICOclub.com]

We'll know for sure in a couple of weeks at the LA Auto Show when the 2009 Nissan Murano doffs the parka it's sporting here, but don't expect earth-shattering changes. It's not like the Murano is looking tired; its sharp looking design will keep it fresh even when it's trading on some beastly backwater of a used car lot somewhere. Brenda Priddy & Co. were able to snag these shots that show off redone ends, but the same basic space capsule in between. We'd expect to see the grille lose a little bit of its "Schick-ness" and align more closely with the Rogue's front end treatment. Headlamps and taillights look slightly reshaped as well, but at least they kept that rakish profile. Utility be damned, we think it looks hot.

[Source: Straightline, Photo: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

When the dust settles at the Los Angeles auto show next month, at least 14 world debuts will have taken place, along with 30 North America unveilings. Amidst the premiers, expect to see a concept version of Hyundai's new RWD sports car (also to be shown in London), along with Nissan's restyled Murano CUV.

Those of you that can pry yourselves away from the Turkey table and shrug off your tryptophanic haze will be able to check out the Jaguar XF, BMW 1-series coupe, the new Mitsubishi Evolution X, Subaru WRX STI, Lamborghini Reventon, Porsche GT2 and Ferrari's F430 Scuderia the week after the press festivities end.

[Source: Just-Auto – Sub. Req.]

Nissan announced back in June that that they would have two special concepts on hand at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, both products of the company's European Technical Centre. They pulled the wraps off of one of them last week: the Nissan 350Z GT-S. Today, they unveiled the Murano GT-C (Grand Tourer-Concept), and it's a stunner.

The body features subtle changes like a revised rear bumper and a new high-mount rear spoiler, but nothing overly dramatic. They simply complement the Murano's already athletic look. Mesh grille inserts now adorn the front intakes, and trim pieces like the grille and sideview mirrors get a coat of black-bronze lacquer that also sees action in the revised cabin.

Big AP Racing brakes are easily visible behind the Dunlop-shod 22" 5-spoke wheels, and the suspension has been lowered and retuned in keeping with this Murano's sporting pretensions. Around back, a pair of double-barreled exhaust tips peek through the openings in the new bumper.

That new exhaust is acoustically tuned, and the source of the noise emitting from them is the Murano's 3.5L V6, which gets a single Garrett turbocharger. The enhanced powerplant kicks out an impressive 340 horsepower with 265 lb-ft of torque. 60 mph arrives in an estimated 7 seconds, and top speed is 140 mph.

The passenger cabin is improved mightily, thanks to a two-tone interior highlighted by hand-stitched leather, the aforementioned black-bronze lacquer trim, blue LED ambient lighting, and a hand-blown glass shift knob. Even the mats, rear cargo floor, and rollaway cargo cover get the two-tone look.

While only a concept, its makers say that if approved for production, the GT-C could come through with only minor detail changes.

After Goodwood, the Murano GT-C will be shown at the British International Motor Show in mid-July.

(Detailed press release, more photos after the jump)

[Source: Nissan Great Britain]