Stylish new Murano diesel is what India needs

Nissan has satisfied all those in the US of A with the Murano but something more was needed to satisfy the Europeans. So Nissan slotted their brilliant dci diesel under the hood of the Murano and left the rest to the Europeans. Well, the have satisfied diesel crazy Europe but the Murano is yet to quench the thirst for crossovers in India. We did report back in March on the diesel Murano but the subsequent facelift that it has received now makes it so much more appealing. The styling is the best part of this car and is sure to appeal to Indians who want their vehicles to stand out.

So Nissan have got the styling on target and so have they with respect to the engine and interiors. The engine is a 2.5L 4 cylinder producing 190bhp and its a diesel , meaning it will be perfect for diesel-crazy India. You also get a 6-speed automatic transmission Adaptive Shift Control. The large SUV even manages to return an average of 12km/l on the combined cycle while emitting 210g/km CO2. Aiding the Murano achieve these figures is the new electric power regeneration system. So everything seems to be right, from the styling to the engine to the transmission. Now, the final and the most crucial part has to be taken care by Nissan – Price. In UK, the diesel Murano retails for Rs 26 lakhs meaning a CKD operation will keep the price down to Rs 35 lakhs at the maximum. We feel that the Murano is destined for success in India if the pricing hits the sweet spot.

Hit the jump for more pictures and press release.

PRESS RELEASE

MURANO GOES DIESEL

* New Murano available with diesel engine for first time
* Impressive 450Nm torque and 190PS
* EUROV emissions standard achieved with 210 g/km
* Expected to account for over 90% of Murano sales
* Available to order now from £37,795 OTR
* New engine also arrives along with MY2011 Murano facelift

As the first true crossover and a halo model for Nissan, the only thing that could enhance the Murano is the pace, economy and efficiency of diesel power – and that’s now exactly what it’s got!

Available to order in the UK now, the Murano dCi benefits from a diesel engine specifically engineered for Europe with significant input from engineers at Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE).

The 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine has been totally revised with extensive changes designed to provide the perfect balance of performance and efficiency for the Murano. This is combined with a revised 6 speed automatic transmission providing Adaptive Shift Control for the optimum gear and helping to reduce CO2 emissions by 5.0g/km through lower transmission friction and Clear Neutral Control. It is now fully compliant with tough Euro5 emissions standards, and develops 11% more power and torque than before. The headline figures are 190PS and 450Nm at just 2,000rpm.
An all-important benefit of the new diesel unit is efficiency, and with 35.3mpg economy in the combined cycle and 210g/km CO2 emissions the Murano is more appealing than ever. This is helped by improved aerodynamics and a first ever on Murano, an electric power regeneration system.

The importance of refinement hasn’t been forgotten either, with the very latest engineering techniques employed to ensure the Murano’s premium cabin environment remains uninterrupted. Among the improvements are a change from chain to belt drive for the power steering pump to reduce noise while a fifth engine mounting point has been added to make the Murano as quiet as possible. At the same time, extra sound absorbing material has been added to the engine bay to reduce noise intrusion into the cabin even further.

Nissan’s designers have also taken the opportunity to combine the need for cooling airflow to the diesel engine and radiators with a styling makeover for the Murano’s front-end. A new grille and bumper design reinforce the striking looks that have long blended the dynamic pleasure of a sports car with the cabin comfort of an SUV.

This combination of abilities is reflected on the spec sheets. Murano comes fully loaded with everything from 20-inch alloy wheels, power tailgate and colour rear and kerbside cameras all fitted as standard. Murano also features Nissan Connect Premium satellite navigation system with 7″ touchscreen, HDD 9.3 Gb music server, ipod, Bluetooth and aux connectivity combined with premium 11 speaker BOSE system and the option of rear seat DVD entertainment system.
In addition, the kit list includes rear privacy glass, bi-xenon headlamps, cruise control and Murano’s signature electrically folding rear seats, which can be raised or lowered easily and conveniently from the luggage area.

All this comes wrapped up in the Murano diesel package priced at a highly competitive £37,795. Orders are being taken now ready for the first deliveries in September.

Now firmly established as the pioneer and leader of the crossover market, Nissan’s improved Murano shares many of the cross-segment abilities that have made the Qashqai and the seven-seat Qashqai+2 so successful in the family hatchback sector. What’s more, Nissan’s crossover dominance is set to be further underlined by the arrival, later this year, of the Juke, Nissan’s new compact crossover.