Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet - The Story

The Story, Design, & Sales of our Beloved CC

THE STORY The story that the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet was built specifically for Carlos Ghosn's wife is a long-standing rumor or legend within the automotive industry, but it has not been definitively confirmed as fact by Nissan.

The story, as widely circulated, is:

The Request: Carlos Ghosn's wife at the time, Rita Kordahi, was reportedly driving a standard Murano and expressed interest in having a practical car with an open-air experience. Ghosn's

Action: According to the rumor, Ghosn, who was then the powerful CEO of Nissan, liked the idea and directed his product planning and engineering teams to produce a convertible version of the Murano, reportedly giving them a tight deadline of around two years. While some sources from within Nissan have reportedly "confirmed" the long-standing rumor to automotive journalists, it remains a part of the car's colorful legend rather than an officially stated reason for its creation. Officially, the car was a bold niche-market attempt by Ghosn to target a specific demographic in the U.S., namely baby boomers and women who were used to CUVs but wanted a fun, unique, open-air vehicle. The car was developed during a period when Nissan, under Ghosn's leadership, was known for taking risks and exploring unusual market segments.

DESIGN

The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet has a short but notable history as a polarizing and unique vehicle in the automotive market.

Development and Launch Concept: The idea for a crossover convertible reportedly came from Carlos Ghosn, then head of both Nissan and Renault, who envisioned a niche vehicle for the U.S. market, targeting demographics like women and baby boomers.

Debut: It was introduced to the public at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show and was marketed as the "world's first all-wheel-drive crossover convertible".

Production Years: The CrossCabriolet was in production for the 2011 to 2014 model years. It was built on the platform of the second-generation standard Murano. Design and Features

Unique Structure: To create the convertible, Nissan removed the roof and B-pillars and installed significant structural reinforcement from the A-pillar rearward. The front doors were extended by 7.9 inches to allow access to the rear seats. Powertrain: It shared the same engine as the standard Murano: a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive.

Premium Focus: The vehicle was offered only in the high-end LE trim level, featuring a well-equipped interior with standard leather, a navigation system, and a Bose sound system. This high level of features contributed to a steep starting price of around $47,000. Reception and Discontinuation Polarizing Reception: The vehicle was highly polarizing, with many automotive critics and consumers mocking its unique styling and concept. It was often criticized for its design, lack of utility (minimal trunk space with the top down), and high price point. Low

Sales: Due to low sales volume, the model was discontinued after the 2014 model year. Total sales between 2011 and 2013 were less than 6,000 units in North America.

End of Life: Nissan decided not to invest in redesigning the convertible version when the third-generation Murano was released in 2015. Despite the initial reception and low sales, the car has gained a cult following and is now considered a unique and rare vehicle in the used car market.

SALES Official sales figures for the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet in the US were combined with the standard Murano production records, making exact annual production numbers difficult to ascertain. However, sales numbers for the North American market have been estimated as follows:

Year Units Sold (Estimated):

2011: 1,159

2012: 3,278

2013: 1,332

2014: Less than 700 (estimated by owners)

Across its entire run from 2011 to 2014, an estimated total of around 6,000 to 6,400 units were sold in North America.

Source : Dean Owens (member of the Facebook Group - Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet)