Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Ashland's Standing Stone brew pub joins green beer coalition Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris Four premieres and five Bard plays highlight OSF's 2016 season ACT seeks producing artistic director Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 24 Phoenix High officer looks back on varied career Emergency services, March 23 Crisis intervention: Medford police take training in response to surge in mental health calls Emergency Services, March 22 Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Education Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Oregon legislators may end fifth-year high school programs Phoenix High officer looks back on varied career Oregon school officials blasting new education budget Eight vie for Medford School Board positions Environment Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Controversial asphalt plant in Talent wins county planning approval Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area State News Dave Frohnmayer remembered at Eugene memorial Oregon school officials blasting new education budget Bend company's aim: Connect investors to Africa Brown proposes $1 billion in California drought spending Are they decorations or desecration? Nation - World Obituaries Rosalind Dee Katherine Newcomb Death Notices Fred Max Middlebusher M."Dolly" Cecilia Wood Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Browns shun ‘Hard Knocks’ program Circuit wasn't an accomplice in Keselowski win Owners shoot down most replay proposals Howland introduced as Mississippi State coach ASU fires Sendek after nine seasons Varsity 541 College Sports Howland introduced as Mississippi State coach ASU fires Sendek after nine seasons Against UCLA, Zags get a shot at revenge Ducks' Young eager to play at the next level Princeton's perfect season comes to an end Pro Sports Browns shun ‘Hard Knocks’ program Circuit wasn't an accomplice in Keselowski win Owners shoot down most replay proposals LeBron not irked by Love's comments Proposal to owners: Order unstable players off field Community Sports Business Latest Stories Ashland's Standing Stone brew pub joins green beer coalition Seasonally adjusted jobless rate dips to 7 percent for first time since May 2008 Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Cars We Remember: 1967 Rambler Rebel, 1960 Rambler American Super, and some early engine design flaws Silvio Calabi: Nissan has a winner with its new Murano Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Opinion Latest Rick Holmes: What addicts say about getting high and getting better Landgren cartoon: Arsenic wine Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money Letters to the Editor, March 24 Editorials Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money Our View: Medford police tried to avoid confrontation Other Views: Dave Frohnmayer was a man of honor Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Our View: White House public records move is less than sunny Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 24 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 22 Letters to the Editor, March 21 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Columns Michael Gerson: How to block a bad nuclear deal with Iran Kathleen Parker: Dear Starbucks: Let's not talk George Will: Social inequality's deepening roots Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Dana Milbank: Can Israel remain a democracy? Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Lifestyle Latest stories St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Season Stepp: Waffle iron isn’t just for breakfast anymore Paul Rogers: Ground unworkable, despite spring’s arrival Food for Thought: Watermelon is the perfect smoothie ingredient Cars We Remember: 1967 Rambler Rebel, 1960 Rambler American Super, and some early engine design flaws Food Season Stepp: Waffle iron isn’t just for breakfast anymore Food for Thought: Watermelon is the perfect smoothie ingredient Kitchen Call: Cobblers, crisps and crumbles Community blog: Stoke meat-smoking passion with these tips Prudence Hilburn: Head to kitchen for delicious cabbage dishes Home and Garden Paul Rogers: Ground unworkable, despite spring’s arrival Home Help: How green is your house? Plant a few dahlias, Dahling Hello, honey: Invite bees for a lush garden Understand home inspection Health St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Community blog: Sleep Tight: Making Your Bed, Body and Mind Ready for Rest Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Studying stress Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Alan Berman Trio plays the Imperial Ballroom in Medford Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night' opens at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival The Brothers Reed win a slot in the Rising Stars finals Pimps of Joytime play Historic Ashland Armory Here's five top entertainment picks for the coming week Theater Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night' opens at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Camelot's 'Sunset Boulevard' ambitious, not as dark Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Music Pimps of Joytime play Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 22 Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris ... Four premieres and five Bard plays highlight OSF's 2016 season ... Seasonally adjusted jobless rate dips to 7 percent for first time since May 2008 ... Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris ... Four premieres and five Bard plays highlight OSF's 2016 season ... Seasonally adjusted jobless rate dips to 7 percent for first time since May 2008 ... Silvio Calabi: Nissan has a winner with its new Murano By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 23, 2015 @ 8:24 am By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 23, 2015 @ 8:24 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> When the Murano, Nissan’s midsize sport-utility vehicle, showed up back in 2003, it made a strong impression on me as an example of what a crossover SUV should be. At the time, many utes were still pickup trucks with five-door bodies draped over them, and they drove and handled accordingly. The Murano, by contrast, was wonderfully tight and responsive, with a capable suspension attached to a stiff monocoque structure. It had a crisp look to go with its demeanor too, and, if memory serves, it also had the first power tailgate I’d ever seen. I always wondered why even more people weren’t buying those things. The other reason the Murano stood out is that for a while there was a version of it called the CrossCabriolet — the first-ever, and so far only, convertible SUV. It didn’t sell well, at least outside Palm Beach, so it’s a goner. Nice try, though, and interesting thinking. Now here we are in 2015 with the third generation of the Murano. Will it emerge from the shadow of its sister ships in the Nissan/Infiniti fleet? I’m thinking yes. Style-wise, the new Murano is a three-point drop-in from center court. Nissan toned down the gaping maw of its Resonance Concept, the 2013 show vehicle on which this Murano is based, so the V-Motion grille should no longer frighten toddlers and small animals. (The Aha! factor isn’t to be overlooked. I thought Audi had lost its mind when they introduced their droop-jawed, pavement-scraping grille some years back, but it’s become a signature that’s recognizable from a mile away.) The rest of the Murano manages to be both sleek and voluptuous, at least when it’s not coated with snow and road slop. The boomerang tail lamps, the LED Signature lights and the “floating roof” — with blacked-out back windows and door pillars and sweetly tapering lines — work well, and the Murano wound up a lot prettier than any of its more costly Infiniti cousins. The new Murano is aerodynamically cleaner too, for better gas mileage and less wind noise. Our first impressions on sliding into the driver’s seat were just as positive, along the lines of “Ooh, only 37 grand? Looks and feels like more.” Nissan makes a big deal out of its NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seats, and they are indeed comfy. The “social lounge” ambience (Nissan’s phrase) of the new Murano is enhanced by attractive materials and sculpted shapes, a simplified instrument panel with 10 switches instead of 25, a larger, brighter touch screen, and loads of light flooding in through larger windows and an optional two-panel sunroof. In the back, passengers get more knee room and a USB port, but the sloping roof cuts into leg (not head) room. There’s more space in the cargo area now as well. Between four trim levels (S, SV, SL and Platinum) and front- or all-wheel drive, there are eight Murano versions at starting prices from $30,000 to $40,000. Both drivetrains share the same 3.5-liter, regular-gas V-6 engine — rated for 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque, and 21 to 28 MPG — and a continuously variable automatic transmission. The power is neither under- nor overwhelming and, while the transmission may be stepless, thanks to something called D-Step Logic there’s no droning or awkward shifting. A 12-year-old memory isn’t to be trusted, but compared to the first Murano, this one seems to have traded away some over-the-road crispness for a plusher ride and extra comfort. As expected, the new Murano has a long list of standard features, including a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, pushbutton starting, USB ports, satellite radio and Bluetooth. Optional features include that two-panel sunroof, a nine-speaker Bose stereo with HD Radio, remote starting, power-folding rear seats, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree monitoring system with up to four cameras and three radar sensors, and GPS navigation with an eight-inch touch screen. Clearly Nissan has high expectations of its new Murano, which for the first time will be manufactured in the U.S. — in Canton, Mississippi — and exported to more than 100 markets worldwide. Including Italy, where they know that Murano is an island full of glass-blowers in the Lagoon of Venice. Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. LIKES: Updated cabin & features Prettiest Nissan of all Seems like it should cost more DISLIKES: Slightly ponderous feeling Knees-to-chin seating in back By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Mar. 23, 2015 @ 8:24 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501