Motor Authority - blog Category: Murano

It's a weird world we live in, but Nissan is apparently going forward with its plans to build a convertible Nissan Murano crossover SUV. Why? No one knows, especially in this market.

Rumors initially popped up late last year, but nothing was heard since - until today. The report appears credible, indicating that the vehicle will be sold as a 2011 model, feature a soft top and get its power from the typical Murano 265hp (197kW) 3.5L V6, according to Edmunds.

Perhaps most interesting, the Murano 'vert will supposedly get a two-door configuration, making it a sort of SUV-crossover-roadster. It's beginning to sound like a venture into... It's a weird world we live in, but Nissan is apparently going forward with its plans to build a convertible Nissan Murano crossover SUV. Why? No one knows, especially in this market. Rumors initially popped up late last year, but nothing was heard since - until today. The report appears credible, indicating that the vehicle will be sold as a 2011 model, feature a soft top and get its power from the typical Murano 265hp (197kW) 3.5L V6, according to Edmunds. Perhaps most interesting, the Murano 'vert will supposedly get a two-door configuration, making it a sort of SUV-crossover-roadster. It's beginning to sound like a venture into mythical creature territory. But who can forget the stunning success that is (was) the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, or the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept, which managed to take all the glory of German engineering and Audi design and still come up with something no one in their right mind would buy. Here's hoping Nissan manages to beat the odds with the Murano convertible - if it is in fact to be built.2009 Nissan Murano Read More

X-by-wire technology, a feature that uses wires and electrical impulses to replace mechanical linkages for the control of major systems such as steering, braking and gear changes, has been used in the past by Mercedes-Benz and Toyota but has never really taken off because of safety concerns and the poor reliability of electronic systems as they cars age. As carmakers strive to find ways of reducing vehicle weight in light of tougher emissions and fuel-economy standards, engineers are once again developing the technology.

Nissan has now unveiled a new concept car based on its first-generation Murano SUV equipped with X-by-wire technology for... X-by-wire technology, a feature that uses wires and electrical impulses to replace mechanical linkages for the control of major systems such as steering, braking and gear changes, has been used in the past by Mercedes-Benz and Toyota but has never really taken off because of safety concerns and the poor reliability of electronic systems as they cars age. As carmakers strive to find ways of reducing vehicle weight in light of tougher emissions and fuel-economy standards, engineers are once again developing the technology. Nissan has now unveiled a new concept car based on its first-generation Murano SUV equipped with X-by-wire technology for the steering, braking and transmission. By replacing pumps, hoses, fluids, belts and brake boosters and master cylinders with electronic sensors and actuators, engineers were able to reduce the weight of the vehicle and free-up space inside for occupants. By-wire also allows the adoption of smaller steering wheels that require less steering input. On the concept, engineers made it possible to add a third row of seating and capacity for seven passengers. In fact, the adoption of steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems resulted in an increase in interior length of 110mm more than the conventional model. Nissan hasn’t said when the technology will be introduced to its production cars but given the benefits we suspect it won’t be too long. Read More

Nissan’s Navara pickup may have failed Europe’s tough NCAP crash test but its 2009 Murano SUV has been voted the safest choice by America’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the midsize SUV category. Testing showed that midsized SUVs have become safer, but side and rear impact collisions still remain a sore point.

Of the ten vehicles tested, nearly all received the top rating of ‘good’ in the frontal crash protection test but the same can’t be said for the side and rear tests. The Jeep Liberty, Jeep Wrangler, and Kia Sorento, all 2008 models, were the worst performers in the side test. The... Nissan’s Navara pickup may have failed Europe’s tough NCAP crash test but its 2009 Murano SUV has been voted the safest choice by America’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the midsize SUV category. Testing showed that midsized SUVs have become safer, but side and rear impact collisions still remain a sore point. Of the ten vehicles tested, nearly all received the top rating of ‘good’ in the frontal crash protection test but the same can’t be said for the side and rear tests. The Jeep Liberty, Jeep Wrangler, and Kia Sorento, all 2008 models, were the worst performers in the side test. The Liberty, also sold as the Dodge Nitro, and Wrangler earned the second lowest rating of ‘marginal’ for protection in side crashes, while the Sorento actually earned the lowest rating of ‘poor’. The results did show an improvement. In 2001 only half of the midsize models tested earned good ratings in the frontal offset test. This year, only the Hummer H3 didn’t earn the top ‘good’ rating. The H3 also received an ‘acceptable’ rating in the side evaluation and a ‘poor’ rating in the rear crash protection test. At the other end of the scale, Nissan’s Murano received top ratings in all three categories. The tests also showed that despite their taller ride height, an inherent advantage in side impact crashes, many of the SUVs actually performed worse than cars.2009 Nissan Murano Read More