All-new 2015 Nissan Murano Sneek Peek

by Larry Nutson
Senior Editor
New York Bureau
The Auto Channel

New York April 15, 2014; Nissan revealed to The Auto Channel an early peek at the 2015 Murano, which makes its world debut this Wednesday April 16 at the New York International Auto Show. As the halo vehicle for Nissan's expanding range of bold crossovers and SUVs, the Murano previews a new Nissan design language for future Nissan production vehicles.

Along with its innovative styling, the all-new 2015 Nissan Murano features a spacious, premium interior and advanced, purposeful safety and connective technology. An invited cadre of auto writers, we among them, got an in-person look at the new Murano in New York City a couple weeks ago. In the very crowded world of new vehicle introductions many manufacturers hold special events like this. The 2015 Murano was being kept so secret, no photography was permitted and we had to check our smart phones at the door. As you will see from the photos the all-new Murano is gorgeous.

ALL-NEW 2015 NISSAN MURANO CROSSOVER TO BE ASSEMBLED IN THE UNITED STATES

CANTON, Mississippi (April 16, 2014) – The all-new 2015 Nissan Murano will become the first Murano and the ninth vehicle assembled at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant. The 11-year old Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant becomes the global source for Murano production, creating export opportunities to more than 100 markets.

The move is part of Nissan’s strategy to localize core model production to the United States. More than 85 percent of Nissan vehicles sold in the U.S. will be built in North America by 2015. Murano will be assembled on the same line as Xterra, Frontier, Titan and Armada.

“Bringing Murano production to Canton is a key component of our plan to build more than 85 percent of our U.S. product lineup at our plants here in North America, as well as to increase vehicle exports from our U.S. plants, “ said John Martin, senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing for Nissan North America. “Canton employees are looking forward to building the all-new Murano alongside the other outstanding cars and trucks that they build in Mississippi today.”

A new supplier park, expected to support 400 new supplier jobs and 400 additional Nissan jobs, is currently under construction next to the vehicle assembly facility. When the plant opened, Nissan became the largest private-sector employer in the region and has since brought even more high-skilled, well-paying jobs to the community while maintaining a diverse workforce that has drawn employees from 80 of Mississippi's 82 counties.

The new third-generation of Nissan’s popular flagship crossover symbolizes Nissan’s design-led product and brand renaissance. The 2015 Murano features a bold, modern and futuristic exterior and inviting and upscale social lounge interior, carrying forward Nissan’s new design direction with V-Motion front end, boomerang-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights, floating roof treatment and efficient aerodynamics. Employees at the Canton assembly plant were responsible for naming one of the new Murano’s exterior paint colors, Sunset Pacific.

The all-new Murano arrives in Nissan showrooms in late 2014.

About the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant

The Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant began operations in 2003 and employs more than 5,600 people with an annual payroll in excess of $200 million.

Canton employees currently build the award-winning Altima, Sentra compact sedan, Armada full-size SUV, Xterra mid-size SUV, Titan and Frontier pickup trucks and NV full-size commercial cargo and passenger vans.

Since 2003, along with its generous employees, Nissan has awarded more than $8 million in grants, academic scholarships and other charitable contributions in Central Mississippi. Additionally, Nissan employees volunteer many hours annually to community organizations, including working with students in the classroom and as one-on-one mentors.