(Not So) Wild Arse Rumour Of The Day: Nissan To Take A Tin Opener To The Murano?
Mad cars are what make this industry fun. The second generation Renault Megane had a polarising effect; people either hated it (me) or loved it (the others). And people did love it. Very much. Then there was the Fiat 600 Abarth, where they tweaked the engine (which was in the boot) so much, it could only stay cool with the boot lid open. When they found out the car could go faster with the boot lid open, Fiat sold the car with the boot lid permanently open! Then we come to Nissan. While quite not in the same league as the Abarth, Nissan has had some pretty wild cars. The Cube and the Juke certainly stay seared in one’s mind. And it looks like they’ll be doing it again.
USA Today reports that Nissan is set to announce that they’ll be making a convertible version of the Nissan Murano. Dealers have already seen a version of it in Las Vegas. Tim Gallagher, Nissan spokesperson, did the usual tease that always comes before a car is launched “We haven’t said anything official but it’s been out there for a few month and I would tend to believe it.” Well, pictures of the thing have been on the interwebs for over a year now, get on with it. Now, I’m no market researcher, but I thought that crossovers of that nature were bought by suburban mums who like the safety that a crossover brings, and they don’t like their coiffure disturbed. Let’s hope Nissan use a metal folding roof, after all, little Zach and Nicole are precious.
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The result is probably going to resemble the PT convertible, which isn't a bad thing. Personally, I'm surprised no one has tried this before. There's a lack of "comfortable" convertibles on the market: other than the Sebring, everything else is cramped and/or hideously expensive and all of them are low-riders with access issues. A tall convertible won't make the buff-books happy, but it'll suit, ahem, the sorority set very well.
Remember the Dodge Dakota convertible? Didn't think so. You'll be asking the same thing about the Murano convertible a few years from now.
The real challenge will be designing various wind-screen devices that don't threaten the toupées on the pates of its target market buyers or passengers. The appeal of the Murano is lost on me. It's got all the weight of an SUV and none of the roominess that makes that worth it.
After doing a little research, it turns out that the Murano convertible will not be a 4-door, but will be a 2-door, a la PT Cruiser. So if you missed your chance to get a PT 'vert before it was cancelled, now's your chance. It also gives an indication of the chances of the Murano convertible being a success.