What?! The All-New Nissan Murano That We LOVED At The 2014 New York Auto Show Almost NEVER Existed!

What?! The All-New Nissan Murano That We LOVED At The 2014 New York Auto Show Almost NEVER Existed!
At this year's 2014 New York Auto Show, there was one vehicle that stood out amongst the others. For us, it was simple: the all-new Nissan Murano was king.

Featuring an edgy design and some new design language we hadn't seen before, we dug it. From the exterior to the interior, there's not much to complain about. It has just the right amount of the Nissan Sport Sedan Concept in its design while keeping it practical for the Average Joe.

001's and my favorite element was the white wood trim Nissan showed off. It looked like something out of the BMW Individual catalog.

Turns out though that the all-new Murano almost never existed as you saw it. That's because there was essentially a bake-off between dueling forces in Japan and America. Thankfully, one executive saw the need for something a bit edgier in the market and acted as a shepherd.

**To hear the FULL story, click "Read Article" below!

But getting the Murano back to a more daring design wasn’t easy.

When Reed, normally based at Nissan’s Detroit-area technical center in Farmington Hills, MI, was sent to Japan four years ago to work on the third-gen CUV, he became the “guardian” of a design concept based on more complex shapes.

Two possible paths had emerged during development of the 2-row CUV: a more conservative look styled in Japan and the edgier concept from Nissan’s San Diego design studio.

Reed favored the latter look and pushed for it.



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The 2014 New York Auto Show photo galleries are sponsored by Lexus.


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MattDarringerMattDarringer - 6/21/2014 10:12:13 AM
-2 Boost
The Morono is just an ugly Pathfinder made Juke ugly. This is not design at its finest. The Morono has always been its own brand of hideous. It's too bad they are building it.


bnilhomebnilhome - 6/21/2014 3:41:29 PM
+3 Boost
I remember how shocked I was when this was named the best car at the NY Autoshow, and it seems many others were surprised too. I think it would have been better off had this design never existed. It's got way too much going on, similar to the way Acura overstylized the 4G TL after a very classic 3G design.

The Murano will still have its loyal followers, but in my opinion, this is a step backwards.


Dexter1Dexter1 - 6/21/2014 4:01:14 PM
+4 Boost
It's truly amazing how far Nissan's car design has plummeted. My eyes actually don't know which design cliché to follow -- especially in the rear quarter panel. This is visual confusion at best.



TheSteveTheSteve - 6/21/2014 5:53:05 PM
+3 Boost
re "This is visual confusion at best."
+1!!!


Agent00RAgent00R - 6/21/2014 6:28:02 PM
-1 Boost
Perhaps you will all change your minds when you see it in the flesh.


jeffgalljeffgall - 6/21/2014 8:39:34 PM
+2 Boost
Saw it in person. Everyone's comments are spot on. Way too much going on outside. And what is that thing between the C and D pillar?


crimple7crimple7 - 6/23/2014 7:38:37 PM
+2 Boost
The design works better in the Nissan Sedan Sport (2015 Nissan Maxima). This new Murano looks too outlandish as if Nissan were trying too hard to come up with a more futuristic look. Don't like the taillights at all. The front end doesn't stir the spirit either. Hopefully this may look better in a more classic regular colour.


40flash40flash - 6/23/2014 11:21:46 PM
0 Boost
It's same problem that nearly all Nissan's suffer from these days. It looks French ie, ugly. The upper level manager that said a few months ago that Nissan's should be designed in Japan was right on unless you can hire an Italian to do the body. I'd suggest these guys. Italdesign Giugiaro.
Because it doesn't cost any more to bend metal into pretty shapes than it does to bend it into ugly shapes.


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