Report: Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet Done, Altima, Murano, and Pathfinder Hybrids On the Way

Report: Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet Done, Altima, Murano, and Pathfinder Hybrids On the Way

Nissan pulled the wraps off of its Resonance concept at the 2013 North American International Auto Show only a short time ago but we already no one thing’s for certain. The hybrid concept’s front- and all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain will make its way into several Nissan vehicles. When speaking with sibling publication Automobile Magazine, Andy Palmer, Nissan executive vice president, made it known that this hybrid powertrain will be utilized in t he Altima sedan, Pathfinder, and the next-generation Murano.

Speaking of the next-generation Murano, don’t expect to see the awkward crossover/convertible known as the Murano CrossCabriolet. Palmer didn’t come right out and say it, but it’s pretty obvious the Murano CrossCabriolet won’t be returning. Luckily for Nissan, as Palmer sees it, no harm no foul.

“It was an experiment,” Palmer told Automobile. “It was an expression of our ability to express ourselves, it was a designer’s expression of what you can do. Successful or not, I think it’s very memorable, so it didn’t do us any harm.”

That’s a lot of expression.

As for the Altima sedan, Pathfinder, and Murano hybrid models, each will be powered by a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine and mated to a continuously variable transmission. An electric motor will also chip in on providing power. Palmer says each hybrid model is expected out in the next year or two. Only the Altima had a hybrid model previously and that went out of production in 2011. Nissan won’t stop with the three aforementioned new hybrids either.

“We’ll launch 15 Nissan hybrids by 2016,” Palmer told Automobile. When pressed, Palmer declined to mention exactly which models would be getting the hybrid treatment. So we’ll have to wait for a Nissan GT-R hybrid, for now anyway. If that sounds crazy, can you say Acura NSX? Nissan plans on launching its first plug-in hybrid model by 2016, as well.

Don’t expect Nissan to live and die by the hybrids though. Palmer says the automaker is “agnostic” about hybrids and only plans on using them as seen accordingly. On the contrary, Palmer says Nissan is “fanatical” about all-electric vehicles like the Leaf.

What say you? Should Nissan continue with hybrid vehicles or flesh out its all-electric Leaf? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

Source: Automobile Magazine