NISSAN x S
Giovanny Arroba, Vice President of Nissan Design Europe, points to the graceful arching roofline of the all-new Nissan Murano and says, “this is elegance.” And, he’s right. It is elegant. The more you take time to appreciate the design of Nissan’s newest crossover SUV, the more you realize how remarkable it is.
In a field of drab and practical SUVs, the all-new Murano stands out, and we’ve got Arroba and his team to thank for that.
Having grown up in Southern California, the Mecca of car culture, Arroba has been immersed in automotive design and passion his entire life. He can talk all day about his favourite wedge-shaped experimental cars from the 1960s and ‘70s, such as the 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero or the 1972 Maserati Boomerang. Car design, like suiting and couture, has a long and rich history. There are arcs and trends in car design that build on and react against each other. These machines, no matter how humble, all exist within this greater context.
As Arroba explains, the original Nissan Murano—which debuted in 2002—was a reaction against the boxy and “functionally-oriented” SUVs that dominated the roads back then. The Nissan was different: dynamic and curvaceous. It was a trend-setter, and a machine that helped chart a new path forward for SUV design. It was also a smash-hit for the brand, and remains one of Nissan’s best-sellers for good reason. There’s a lot riding on this all-new model.
Step inside and settle into the plush Zero Gravity seats, however, and you’ll quickly realize Nissan has put in the work. Arroba and his design team have gone above and beyond to create something surprisingly premium, and sophisticated, without losing the Murano’s approachable nature and the practicality that has made it such a fan favourite.
“Inside, Murano delivers the Japanese principle of Omotenashi, or elevated hospitality. Everything around you is soft, wrapped and stitched,” Arroba says. “We have the horizontal dual displays, and we didn’t just want to drop them in place. We wanted to cover them with wrapped and stitched materials so they feel harmoniously integrated. And all these things together have that balance of beauty and functionality.”
This philosophy of harmonious integration extends to every element of the new cabin. On the Murano Platinum, drivers will find quilted semi-aniline leather and Nissan’s unique Murano Glass trim. The latter was inspired by the Venetian glassworks that gave the crossover its name. It took the design team countless hours to get the look right. “We developed a three-layer finisher that provides a beautiful colour gradation reminiscent of Murano glass,” he explains.
The designers’ vision was to create an interior that feels like a spa retreat. “We wanted to make you feel pampered in this sophisticated interior environment,” Arroba continues. To achieve this, the team moved beyond standard upholstery options, designing three distinctive interior colourways. These include a deep blue-and-black combination and a rich chocolate-and-caramel palette (our favourite). The thoughtful colour contrast between the upper portion of the seats and dash against a different hue on the lower sections creates a subtle visual horizon.
“You feel that same harmony as when you’re on the beach looking at the sunset,” Arroba says. “There’s such a powerful natural beauty to the horizon.”
All of these horizontal lines—from the two-tone seats and dashboard, to the two-spoke design of the steering wheel—serve a purpose. As Arroba points out, these lines all come together to emphasize the cabin’s width. It’s not just a design trick; the new Murano is wider than before, feeling more airy and spacious, with extra room to stretch out.
On the road, it all comes together beautifully. The Active Sound Cancellation system works to block out unwanted noise, making the cabin remarkably quiet. Combined with the massaging, heated seats, soft-to-the-touch stitched-leather surfaces, and dazzling Nissan Murano glass trim, drivers and passengers alike feel truly pampered. Arroba and his team set out to make the new Murano feel like a personal spa retreat, and we’d say: mission accomplished.
