Does Edmunds have its head in its arse (again)?

[AZhitman]

According to the staff over at Edmunds, Nissan is pressing forth with the plans to build the Murano convertible...

From Edmunds:

We reported last August that Nissan was readying a convertible version of its Murano SUV, and it doesn’t look as though the current economic conditions have curtailed the Japanese automaker’s plans. Per a new report, Nissan is soldiering on with the drop-top SUV – even as the automaker continues to lose money. As previously reported, the Murano Convertible will be aimed at empty nesters that need a little more cargo room than the typical drop top offers.

Underhood, the Murano Convertible will retain its 265 horsepower 3.5L V6 mated to a continuously variable transmission. Buyers will be able to chose between front and all-wheel drive.

However, one part of the Murano Convertible project has changed since last summer. Although initially thought to be offered as a four-door, new evidence suggest the Murano Convertible will actually be a convertible.

If the latest reports are to believed, we should see the Murano Convertible in Nissan showrooms in time for summer 2010 with a price tag of about $40,000.

That next-to-last sentence is pure journalistic excellence.

I'm calling BS - We shall see.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Wait, wait...

A convertible crossover SUV?! WHAT?! I think someone got some wires crossed. Or a copy editor played a mean joke on the writer by making his copy of Word replace all the entries of "Infiniti G37" with "Nissan Murano."

[NSR_s30]

Oh man.....Just what Nissan needs

[AZhitman]

Edmunds has gotten fooled before - We called them out on their tail-chasing incompetence when the GTR test mule was driving around, and we're calling BS on this story as well.

[RCA]

Yea I have never seen an SUV convertible...

The Murano is ugly enough, it doesn't need a convertible counterpart..

[Razi]

Concept car has been spotted.

[RCA]

[MinisterofDOOM]

Concept car has been spotted.

Holy crap, nevermind the stupid top...look at those side view mirrors. Worst placement ever. How are you supposed to distinguish usable images from a tiny mirror that's 10 feet away? Plus half of it is UNDER the freaking window.

[DrifterXRPS13]

that's pininfarina inspired design right there on that there van...hahahaaa.

[krash]

Yea I have never seen an SUV convertible...

you've seen them, you just weren't thinking.

oh and here's a custom poo:

[Mr1der]

rofl....did they make the Altima Vert yet?

[MinisterofDOOM]

you've seen them, you just weren't thinking.

Not really the same thing.But I'll play along:Factory convertible pickup.And of course:

The Murano convertible still doesn't make sense.

[EZcheese15]

rofl....did they make the Altima Vert yet?

Don't you remember team sawzall? Convertible Altima has been out for a few years apparently.

[Mr1der]

f***in' Sawzaltima

[AZhitman]

Yeah, that guy's a regular Chip Foose.

What a buttclown.

[demcj]

And of course:

a pt cruiser is not an suv.

not even close.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Agreed. And neither is the Murano. They're wagons, or, as we call them these days because we're afraid of the "W" word: crossovers.

[ZOMG.SR20]

looks sexy BTW greg why would you post a repost you of all people should have heard of this. I was talking to someone about a month ago about the designing of this

[AZhitman]

Re-read my post.

Not a repost, as I'm not bringing up "new news".

I'm pointing out that this has been news for over 2 years, and Edmunds is still drinking the Kool-Aid.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Although initially thought to be offered as a four-door, new evidence suggest the Murano Convertible will actually be a convertible.

So it's a convertible, then? Man, I'm glad they cleared that one up.

[Jesda]

Chrysler is disappearing, so someone has to take the place of the PT Convertible.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Nah, moms still have the Solara Convertible. That's more than enough content for that market niche.

[AZhitman]

Is Lexus still making the SC430 for over-the-hill gay men?

[numbnuts240]

So it's a convertible, then? Man, I'm glad they cleared that one up.

i had to read that 4 times to make sure my eyes weren't going screwy on me.

[EpicNightMayor]

Shenanigans.

[AZhitman]

It'd be shens if Edmunds was IN on the joke.

I'll be the first to facepalm myself if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

[Bronze MFP]

a little google searching produced this picture of the production prototype

[ZOMG.SR20]

its hot I like it

[hannibal]

That Murano vert is the ugliest thing since the Pontiac Aztec.

Nissan should fire their product planners if that thing is ever built.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Is Lexus still making the SC430 for over-the-hill gay men?

Oh, man, how could I forget about the world's ugliest 2-ton 2-door?!Yeah, they're still building the SC. They even gave it a facelift that (surprisingly) made it negligibly less ugly!