Someone Just Proved That This Humdrum Nissan Crossover Can Actually Be Cool

Elevating Nissan’s family crossover to a whole new level.

Front view of a white Nissan car showing the grille, headlights, and black alloy wheel.

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Published April 7, 2026

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Updated April 8, 2026

Family-focused crossover SUVs like the Nissan Murano aren’t exactly calling cards for cool factor. But Japan’s Kuhl Racing might’ve just changed that.

For the first time since 2015, Nissan is exporting its American-made Murano to Japan. To ensure a grand, welcoming reintroduction, Kuhl Racing has unveiled a new concept that elevates the crossover to a whole new level of cool.

Who knew a Murano could look this good

Shiny dark red Nissan electric SUV with black roof and chrome multi-spoke wheels on a white background. — It’s amazing what a simple suspension lowering and a new set of wheels can do to transform a car’s aesthetic.

Kuhl Racing is known for some crazy builds of some rather iconic and popular automobiles. Just have a peek at some of its more recent creations on its Instagram.

Some of its other projects involve crazy slamming (extremely low suspension setups) with deep-dish rims and the sort of body kits that only a teenager could dream of. But for its take on the Murano, the aftermarket tuning firm kept things rather simple and low-key.

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Its Murano workup is definitely a bit more restrained compared to some other projects. Nevertheless, the result is far more shocking and unexpected, in that it certainly works in a “less is more” capacity.

Rather than sticking with its usual formula, Kuhl keeps it simple with a basic suspension drop, thanks to what’s likely a custom adjustable air system. But it doesn’t reduce the Murano’s ride height to the point of becoming a belly scraper.

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Kuhl then provides several, larger wheel options for a significantly sportier look. The list to choose from includes either 21-inch VRF01s or 22-inch KCV04s from Verz-Wheels.

More than just an appearance package

Blue Nissan Murano Platinum SUV with black roof and large silver alloy wheels, shown from rear side. — Could the Nissan Murano actually be cool now, with Kuhl’s mods?

Although it’s currently in the concept stages, Kuhl says its options go beyond just the wheels and custom suspension setup. When the Murano hits Japan’s shores, the firm said it’ll have a brake upgrade kit available and even some custom body parts.

The latter will supposedly include additional bolt-on bits such as a lowering kit for the front fascia, a more aggressive rear diffuser, extended side sill skirts and even a subtle rear lip spoiler.

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However, Kuhl didn’t mention anything about performance modifications under the hood. So, Japanese buyers will have to stick with the Murano’s standard 2.0-liter VC-Turbo four-cylinder good for 241 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

Still, given how many aftermarket tuning firms know how to work with Nissans, someone is bound to make some performance upgrades eventually.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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