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Redesigned Nissan Murano ’15 hits Puerto Rico roads

The 2015 Nissan Murano is offered in four grade levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum. Each is available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The 2015 Nissan Murano is offered in four grade levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum. Each is available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Automaker Nissan is setting the bar high for the third generation, 2015 Murano mid-sized crossover, expecting it to sell at a rate of 60 units per month in Puerto Rico, Juan Santana-Chea, commercial director for the company, said Wednesday.

During a presentation of the redesigned vehicle, which is offered in four grade levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum, Santana-Chea said Nissan is looking to build upon the volume the brand has already achieved with the addition of the new Murano.

“We expect to sell 720 to 750 units a year, above the average for the category,” he said.

Like its first- and second-generation predecessors, the 2015 Murano is known for its highly sculptural, elegant design. Among the elements that were rebooted for the current model are its prominent glass features, its boomerang-style headlights and taillights, and its strong curvatures, which when brought together achieve a more than 16 percent improvement in overall aerodynamics.

During the presentation to members of the media, the executive placed special emphasis on the Murano’s technological features, which on the inside create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. The vehicle features a multi-touch control center, which features 60 percent fewer audio and navigation switches.

Available audio systems include Bose speakers — at a rate of 11 of them per vehicle — HD radio and Sirius XM connectivity.

The 2015 Murano is available with a standard 3.5-liter DOHC V6 rated at 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is projected to increase by approximately 20 percent versus the current generation Murano, due to the approximate 145-pound overall weight reduction, enhanced aerodynamics and engine/transmission efficiencies, the automaker said.

Each of the four Murano models is available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and range in price from $32,000 to $45,000.

“This is a vehicle that in spite of all the technology it incorporates, is in the same price range of the category it competes in and is a vehicle that offers characteristics that could be found in a luxury category, minus the price point,” said Santana-Chea.

“Today’s smart consumer who’s looking, under the current economic conditions, to have all of the benefits of a vehicle with these types of features without having to spend the added resources has an excellent option in Murano,” he said.

Author Details
Author Details
Business reporter with 30 years of experience writing for weekly and daily newspapers, as well as trade publications in Puerto Rico. My list of former employers includes Caribbean Business, The San Juan Star, and the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, among others. My areas of expertise include telecommunications, technology, retail, agriculture, tourism, banking and most other segments of Puerto Rico’s economy.
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