Nissan Murano News

Nissan mulls resurrecting right-hand drive version of its Murano mid-size coupe SUV as it looks to soak up capacity from underutilised US manufacturing.

Nissan is on the verge of a fresh start, with the new Qashqai, X-Trail, Pathfinder and Z all coming to showrooms in the next few months. 

Nissan is recalling almost 400,000 cars globally, including more than 6000 Pathfinder SUVs in Australia, due to a brake fault which could cause vehicles to catch fire.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has this week issued safety recalls for various vehicles from Land Rover, Nissan and Volvo.

The engines are alternatives to Murano’s ongoing 3.5-litre petrol V6. But Nissan Australia is yet to confirm any alternative engines to the carry-over V6. In New York last week, Nissan said its more edgy-styled Murano would be built in the USA with a V6 petrol engine and a continuously-variable transmission (CVT). However, Nissan boss Andy Palmer said in a press conference at the recent New York Auto Show that other engines would be available for certain global markets.These included the new Renault twin-turbo diesel, the 1.6-litre Energy dCi engine. It is rated at 118kW and 380Nm of torque with 90 per cent of that torque available from 1800rpm. This engine is likely to be the first choice for Europe, including the right-hand drive market of the UK. This could make the diesel a possible inclusion for future Australian-delivered vehicles.However, more likely for us is the hybrid Murano. Australia will soon get a hybrid version of the Pathfinder to be sold alongside the newly-launched V6-engined model. The Murano and Pathfinder share the same platform and engine options, so it could follow that to present a more fuel-efficient wagon, the Murano may borrow the Pathfinder’s hybrid.The hybrid is a 2.4-litre supercharged petrol four-cylinder with an electric motor in the flywheel. It delivers 187kW and 329Nm of torque, close to the 195kW and 336Nm of the petrol V6 but with a claimed 25 per cent lower fuel use.The Murano may be the first showing in a Nissan product of Renault’s twin-turbo 1.6-litre diesel engine. Renault-Nissan said the engine is designed for D and E-class vehicles, embracing everything from a Megane to an Altima, X-Trail and Pathfinder.The engine shares some design ideas with Renault’s Formula One engine. It has two sequential turbochargers. The first is a very low inertia turbo that delivers high low-end torque for immediate acceleration at revs barely above idle. Renaults said 90 per cent of the maximum torque is available from 1500rpm.The second turbo takes over at the middle to top-end of the rev range where it produces the magic 100hp/litre. This gives acceleration through to the red line. Its fuel injection system operates at a pressure of 1800 bar to function with the twin turbocharger. It complies with Euro 6b emissions legislation and incorporates a nitrous-oxide and particulate filter with a regeneration system. 

They've taken a new tack inside too after feedback suggested that consumers aren't always looking for devices that do more, they just want it done better.Nissan found that people rarely read the directions for their smartphone because they know intuitively how to operate them. Nissan believe vehicles should behave the same way.Adding to the driver's sense of connectedness is Nissan's Advanced Drive-Assist Display - an enhanced version of the instrument panel feature offered in the new Altima and Pathfinder. For use in the new Murano, it includes a number of new features such as a 7.0-inch high-resolution color display.Nissan's NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seats are standard for front and rear outboard occupants. The rear seats are a three-cushion design, a first for a Nissan vehicle. Climate-controlled seats (heating and cooling) are available in front, along with available Quick Comfort™ heated rear seats.Launching in Australia either late this year or early in 2015, the next Murano will be available with a carryover 3.5-litre DOHC V6 with Xtronic CVT in all wheel and front wheel drive versions.Nissan says fuel economy is up to 20 per cent better than before thanks to a weight reduction of about 50kg, aerodynamic and engine/transmission tweaks. Ride and handling is by four wheel independent suspension featuring a front strut/rear multi-link design. Wheels are 18-20-inch machine-finished alloys. 

  The Morphett Vale dealership is part of the large South Australian Autogild group, but goes to great effort to make customers feel they’re in a small local business. “Most people who walk in the door are known by their first name,” Grand Nissan general manager Gavin Mackenzie says. “We want them to know we acknowledge them as a person, not a faceless number.” “I think emphasising the local connection really resonates with our customer base. We’ve been serving the southern area since 1990 and we try to make it a one-stop shop for people – sales, service, finance.  Customers tend to be happy with their experience here and we get a lot of repeat business.” Mr Mackenzie says emphasising the community connection is part of the dealership’s training processes, and translates into every part of the business. “We’re very involved in the local community, and most people who work here live in the area. “We cater for everybody, obviously, but we tend to go to a lot of extra effort for the local people. We’ll bring a car out to a customer for them to see. And being part of a large group we can show people more – our entire range of used car stock across the State, for example – and if they see something they think they’ll like we can arrange for the car to be brought here.” Mr Mackenzie says the local aspect extends to him felling like he has come home in returning to Grand Nissan after a few years in other parts of the Autogild Group. “I started here at Grand Nissan as a sales person not long after it opened 20 years ago. I then became sales manager, then general sales manager then general manager in 2005, before moving to Autogild’s Metro Holden Prospect branch for some years. Then I came back in January this year. Mr Mackenzie is not the only long-termer at Grand Nissan, he says. “Some of the original people are back as well. Nick Doyle has been here for nine years – he started as a sales person, and is now new car manager.” He says his passion for the industry hasn’t ever waned. ``The car industry is as exciting now as it's ever been. I've been in this industry for 24 years. I have to say, this is the best job in the world.''

…with svelte, new front styling, new design alloy wheels and rear privacy glass. Due in September, the new look Murano features a new grille, front bumper and headlamp design. New, multi spoke 18 inch alloy wheels are introduced for a more prestigious look along with new design rear tail lights, new roof rail design (finished in silver on the Ti model) and the addition of rear privacy glass. The ST model now adds fogs lamps as standard. Inside, both models now feature rain sensing wipers while ST models pick up a Bose audio with 2Gb hard drive and 7 inch color display; rear reversing camera and heated front seats. The range topping Murano Ti now features Nissan's new generation satellite navigation and USB input jack or iPod connectivity with a 9Gb hard drive. Murano is priced from $47,990.

The Murano dCI has a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel, four-cylinder engine also featured here in Navara D40 ST-X Dual Cab and Pathfinder. However, Nissan Australia corporate affairs manager Jeff Fisher says there are no plans as yet for Murano diesel. "We see Murano being more appealing to the current prestige boutique crossover market such as Lexus RX and offer diesels in our traditional 4WDs (Patrol, Pathfinder, X-Trail)," he says. "New Murano went on sale here just 18 months ago and we also tweaked spec a couple of months ago." Murano last month dropped 6.7 per cent in sales in Australia while the segment increased 17.6 per cent and so far this year its sales are up 8.7 per cent to 1368 while the segment has boomed 33.2 per cent. Most of the mid-sized SUVs that have kept pace with or exceeded segment sales have diesel options, including Hyundai Santa Fe up 131.8 per cent so far this year, Jeep Wrangler (85.6 per cent), Holden Captiva (67 per cent), Mitsubishi Pajero (57.4 per cent) and Kia Sorento (42.8 per cent). The Murano dCI has a six-speed auto and Nissan claims the diesel achieves fuel economy of eight litres per 100km while developing 11 per cent more power and torque with 141kW and 450Nm at just 2000rpm. It also meets tough Euro5 emissions standards with CO2 emissions of 210g/km. These figures are achieved by improved aerodynamics and Murano's first electric power regeneration system. While the cabin is unchanged, the Murano dCI is made quieter with extra sound absorbing material in the engine bay, belt drive for the power steering pump instead of chain and a fifth engine mounting point. The need for cool air to the diesel engine and radiators means a new-look grille and bumper.

A tough common-rail turbodiesel engine being rolled out in the Nissan Navara could find soft-road duty in the Murano.  The new 2.5-litre diesel goes on sale in the Navara in April. However, Nissan Australia spokesman, Jeff Fisher, says the engine could find its way into the Murano, which currently uses a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine.  "We are studying it," he says. "However, it's not an immediate priority for us." The diesel Murano has just gone on sale in the UK.  Fisher says that as the engine is built in Spain to go into the Navara, the biggest hurdle getting it into the Murano would be price.  "We'd have to see how it fits," he says.  In the European Navara and Pathfinder, the 2.5-litre dCi develops 140kW at 4000 revs and 450Nm at 2000 revs and delivers a combined fuel economy figure of 8.5l/100km. Designated as the YD25 engine, it comes with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic.  However the Murano version gets a six-speed automatic with adaptive shift control instead of the V6 petrol's CVT automatic. In the Navara, the YD25 engine has been updated for better combustion and improved intake and exhaust flow.  A new electrically controlled variable nozzle turbo replaces the previous hydraulic system to provide quicker response. The Euro5 compliant engine also gets a diesel particle filter.  Like the V6, the Murano diesel sticks with Nissan's proven All Mode 4x4-i technology, which sends power to the rear-wheels when a loss of stability or traction is detected.  Meanwhile, off-road lovers will have a long wait for the newest Patrol.  Nissan expects 300kW/550Nm V8 to arrive here early next year. Although launched with the V8, Nissan is believed to be looking at a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, shared with some Renault models, to add into the lineup.  The V9X V6 is available in other Nissan models in Europe but Nissan Australia spokesman, Jeff Fisher, believes the V8 will satisfy most customers. "The new Patrol is a huge leap," he says. "It's not the rock-hopper it was."