Debut of All-New 2003 Nissan Murano Crossover SUV

NEW YORK, March 27 -- The Nissan Division of Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today unveiled the all-new 2003 Nissan Murano crossover sport utility vehicle, a significant advancement in this fast-growing segment in terms of concept, styling and technology. The Nissan Murano goes on sale this November as a 2003 model.

Nissan Murano was created to fill a void in the marketplace, combining customer needs with engineering execution. It offers the uncompromising functional aspects of a true SUV (available all-wheel drive, ride height, cargo capacity) with the agility and ride comfort of a sedan in a highly refined, well-equipped package.

The 2003 Nissan Murano is available in a choice of front-wheel drive or with an all-new AWD system for enhanced all-weather performance. All models come equipped with a standard 240-plus horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine, derived from the award-winning engine used in the 2002 Altima and Maxima sedans.

The Nissan Murano also advances the technology boundaries in the crossover SUV class with the first North American application of Nissan's Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Unlike conventional stepped gear automatics, the new Nissan CVT operates as essentially ``one gear'' through use of a belt and two pulleys.

Also on display in the brand new Nissan exhibit was a production-ready version of the new Z® sports car, which is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide this summer, the 2003 Frontier Open Sky and the Next Generation Quest Concept.

``The focus at Nissan continues to be on product, driven by the success of the Nissan Revival Plan (NRP),'' said Bill Kirrane, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. ``All of the vehicles that we are showcasing here in New York demonstrate our commitment to driving performance, exciting styling and advanced technology.''

The new 350Z(TM) represents nothing less than the birth of a totally new car that blends Nissan's sports car tradition with cutting-edge technologies and a fresh design. Continuing the Z heritage of design, performance and value that has remained unchanged since the first-generation model, this new-generation Z® car promises to provide all users with immense joy of ownership and complete driving pleasure.

While inheriting the ``Z-ness'' passed on through successive generations, the 350Z(TM) embodies many new features for a sports car, all of which have been perfected to exceptionally high quality. The new Z features a 3.5-liter V6 designed to produce 280-plus horsepower, available 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission or 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, 4-wheel independent suspension, 17-inch Aluminum-alloy wheels and 255/50WR17 (front), 235/50WR17 (rear) tires.

The Z will go on sale in August 2002 as a 2003 model with MSRP ranging from $26,269 to $34,079.

Information Based On Preliminary Internal Test Data