Top secret Nissan/Renault caught!

The Japanese car maker, Nissan, is preparing an all new replacement for the very successful Murano crossover SUV. The Murano has been on the market since 2003 in the United States and also in Europe since 2004.

These photos are showing for the first time a prototype of its successor, caught during secret testing in Southern Europe/Spain. It is a right hand drive car and was accompanied by the recently launched Nissan Qashqai.

Despite the prototype’s disguise, one can recognize the new styling of the front engined SUV, which will again be available with front* or four-wheel-drive. Judging by the advanced stage of this test car, one can expect the new Murano’s launch by the end of next year.

Other people are saying this may not be the next Murano but the Renault Koleos/Samsung QMX. As most people know Renault & Nissan have been working closely together to produces engines and vehicles.

Rumors have suggested that Renault will produce a Nissan Qashqai rival. One thing that makes me think this is the Renault Koleos/Samsung QMX is the curved bootlid but the rear lights are on the bootlid just like the Qashqai so what is it exactly?

At the moment we don't know what it is but we'll keep you posted right up to date when we do!

UPDATE:

The car has a Renault badge on steering wheel and rear door and will be the French brother to the Nissan Qashqai.

Renault had chosen to unveil the Koleos Concept at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. This show car foreshadowed a 4WD vehicle that Renault is due to market in the first half of 2008. The production vehicle, shown here for the very first time while undergoing heat testing in Spain, will assert its claim to the rugged and sporty world of 4WDs while featuring the roominess and comfort of a crossover. It will boast a wide range of practical functions for both everyday use and leisure. To ensure maximum off- and on-road comfort, the Koleos will be built on a new four­wheel drive chassis and will be powered by a 2.0 dCi engine, both of which have been developed within the framework of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Penned by Renault designers working in collaboration with the Renault Samsung Motors Design Centre in Korea, the Koleos will feature dynamic proportions. The glazed roof panel will be topped by profiled aluminium roof bars, while the chunky wheel arches will house 19 inch alloy wheels. The 200mm ground clearance shall confirm that this will be a car built for adventure. Obviously not taken over to production will be the design of the concept car’s rear which asserted its identity in a long sweep that ran from the base of the rear screen and through to the centre of the hatch.

The Koleos will boast a wide range of driver aids. Some are designed for day to day motoring, like ABS, Emergency Brake Assist and ESP, while others are valuable all-terrain functions such as Hill Down Control (HDC) and Hill Start Assist (HSA). To minimize polluting emissions, the 2.0 dCi will be equipped with a periodic regeneration particulate filter, which operates without additives. It will drive through a six-speed manual gearbox that will give the Koleos touring car level driving pleasure.