The 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

Meet the world’s first crossover convertible.

Nissan vehicles offer the kind of innovation that makes other car brands look a bit staid. For example, at the entry level, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet delivers midsize interior room in a compact exterior body starting at under $45,000. At the other end of the spectrum, the Nissan GT-R offers Porsche 911 Turbo performance for around two-thirds the price. Now, the luxurious, all-new, 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet joins the troop. It blends all-wheel drive crossover capability with a convertible’s fun, and offers a combination of style, luxury and capability simply unavailable in any other vehicle on the market today.

For decades, car designers have taken for granted that people who enjoy top-down driving are not that interested in all weather, all-road capability. Nissan’s designers, however, saw a niche going unserved. Their unique answer is the four-passenger 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet, a vehicle that seems custom-built for the convertible lover who wants to keep on driving, no matter what the climate is doing. Owners say they love the Murano’s distinctive silhouette, and so Nissan designers sought to preserve that in the Murano CrossCabriolet with its convertible top raised. At the same time, they made the new vehicle a two-door. With the top down, the Murano CrossCabriolet strikes a sporty stance with a streak of “I can handle anything” attitude. Some will even see a bit of the 370Z sportscar in the rear three-quarter view, especially in the taillight area. The convertible top itself is pretty special. When lowered, it

folds to a compact size to preserve 7.6 cubic feet of trunk space. That’s enough to fit two sets of golf clubs or two carry-on suitcases. With the top raised, cargo capacity expands to 12.3 cubic feet.

The high-quality cloth top integrates a rear glass skylight, giving rear-seat passengers a view of the sky and stars, even when the top is raised. As in high-end luxury roadsters, the Murano CrossCabriolet offers the rollover protection of dual popup rollbars. Also, like those luxury convertibles, the CrossCabriolet features one-touch roof operation with automatic latch/unlatch. Driving the Murano CrossCabriolet will be a luxurious experience for driver and passengers. The new model shares the standard Murano’s powerful 265-hp

3.5-liter V6 engine and Xtronic® CVT continuously variable transmission for smooth, effortless performance. And, of course, it’s equipped with all-wheel drive as standard, so the sporty convertible can still be a winter commuter. There’s plenty of warmth with a standard heated steering wheel, heated front seats and heated outside mirrors.

The CrossCabriolet’s tall beltline design helps reduce the turbulence typical of top-down driving for a quieter interior. Nissan outfitted the interior with premium materials such as standard leather-appointed seats. Other standard equipment includes Nissan Intelligent Key with push-button ignition, an eight-way power driver’s seat and two-position memory for the seat, steering wheel and exterior mirrors. Onboard infotainment underscores the luxury with a standard Nissan Hard-Drive Navigation System with 9.3GB Music Box® hard drive and XM NavTraffic®, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, HomeLink® universal remote and a RearView Monitor.

What’s a sporty convertible without high-powered music? In the 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet, your favorite tunes are loud and clear through a standard Bose® AM/FM/CD audio system with eight speakers including subwoofer. The audio adjusts automatically for top-up or top-down driving. Music connections include the integrated Interface System for iPod® and an auxiliary audio input jack. Or, tune in to the standard XM Satellite Radio (XM subscription sold separately).

The 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet has an MSRP of $46,390 and offers just two factory options: A Camel interior with upgraded, quilted premium leather and black top, and the brown top/Cashmere interior combination, also with upgraded leather.

Especially after such a rough winter in many parts of the country, the idea of a crossover convertible sounds quite appealing. Come in and see the first such vehicle ever, the 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.