The is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Nissan since May 2002 for the 2003 model year, and currently in its third generation. As Nissan's first crossover SUV for the United States and Canada, the Murano was designed at Nissan America in La Jolla, California, and was based on the Nissan FF-L platform shared with the third generation Altima. The European version of the Murano began sales in 2004. The Murano was Nissan's only crossover SUV in the United States until September 2007, when the Rogue went on sale. In Canada, the X-Trail had been on sale as Nissan's second car based SUV since 2004 as a model for 2005; it was replaced by the 2008 Rogue at the end of 2007. The Murano is sized between the Pathfinder and the now defunct Xterra (which was replaced by the Rogue as a compact SUV). A convertible variant, the Murano CrossCabriolet, was available for the second-generation model for the model years of 2011 to 2014. The nameplate Murano derives from the Italian city of Murano and the namesake Murano art glass for which the city is widely known. First generation (Z50; 2002) The first generation Nissan Murano was unveiled in production form for the model year of 2003, at the 2002 New York International Auto Show. It is powered by a 3.5-liter (VQ35DE) V6 producing and , also used in several other Nissan models like the Altima, Maxima, and Nissan 350Z, but specifically tuned for use in the Murano. Available with standard front-wheel-drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel-drive (AWD), the Nissan Murano is one of the largest vehicles using a continuously variable transmission (CVT) during the time. Fuel economy was rated at 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway (same mpg FWD and AWD on the new EPA specifications). Production started in the middle of May 2002, and the first vehicles shipped in early June for the United States and mid-July for Canadian markets. Sales in Europe started in 2004, following its European premiere at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. An independent suspension on all wheels was used for class-leading ride and handling. A full set of airbags, steel-reinforced cabin, and head restraints were safety features designed to protect the interior while VDC, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist were mechanical safety features. VDC incorporates a form of traction control. The Murano received a crash