The third-generation crossover serves as a significant redesign of its predecessor, closely following many of the design features that were previewed early in 2013 with the futuristic Resonance concept.
“Likely few people who saw Resonance in its North American International Auto Show debut imagined that we could build such a futuristic design.” said Nissan chief planning officer Andy Palmer.
Prominent design elements include boomerang headlights and taillights, a floating roofline and a ‘V-Motion’ front end, which is shared with the company’s Sport Sedan Concept. The sculptural form also features a stronger curvature on the rear fenders, while the overall build is slightly lower, wider and longer.
The changes are not all driven by pure aesthetics, combining with a grille shutter, fender lip moldings, rear bumper surfacing, rear tire deflectors and an integrated spoiler to achieve a 16 percent improvement in aerodynamics.
“The designers and engineers invested three times the normal wind tunnel testing of the new Murano to get to its 0.31 coefficient of drag, on par with many sports cars,” said Nissan creative chief Shiro Nakamura.
On the inside, the instrument panel has been lowered and the number of audio and navigation switches has been reduced from 25 down to just 10. The company’s Advanced Drive-Assist display has been borrowed from the Altima and Pathfinder, presented on a seven-inch panel between the gauges, while an eight-inch touchscreen is available for the center stack.
The powertrain remains mostly unchanged from the outgoing model, with 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque produced by a 3.5-liter V6, though fuel efficiency is expected to jump by 20 percent due to weight reduction and improved aerodynamics. Power is delivered to the wheels via an Xtronic CVT.
Nissan plans to build the third-generation Murano at its Canton, Mississippi, facility.
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