It happens at every auto show: Someone shows up with something so far outside the box you can only think, "What? Huh? Seriously?"
This year in L.A. it's Nissan, which looked at its Murano crossover utility vehicle and thought, "We oughtta make that a convertible." The result is the Murano CrossCabriolet, billed as the world's first convertible crossover utility vehicle. Nissan says it "breaks new ground in both the crossover and convertible segments" and boasts, "it is unlike anything on the road."
True, that. This thing is tall. It's car-like. It's got a 265-horsepower V6. And it's clearly aimed at an affluent audience, what with colors like "merlot," "sunset bronze" and "caribbean." Then there's this pitch, from Nissan vp Al Castignetti, describing the $46,390 vehicle:
“When people think of a crossover, they think of a combination of the driving sophistication of a sedan with the utility of a sport utility. This new Murano CrossCabriolet adds an unexpected third element, the ability to make everyday activities more exciting with open air driving. However, with its extraordinarily engineered convertible top, standard all-wheel drive and room for four adults plus cargo, the CrossCabriolet is not just for cruising South Beach or Malibu. It’s a vehicle to take to lunch, running errands or on a long ski weekend in any part of the country.”
What? Huh? Seriously?
Photo: Nissan. More below
