This is the Murano with...

This is the Murano with more – much more! Nissan has taken its luxury SUV in a new performance direction – and it could well go on sale if visitors to next month’s British Motor Show give the newcomer the thumbs-up.

Called the GT-C, the stunning off-roader has been restyled inside and out and features a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6. It’s the work of Nissan GB, and has been produced in response to growing demand for performance SUVs such as BMW’s X5 and the Porsche Cayenne.

Taking the Murano’s already distinctive shape, Nissan GB has added menacing Kuro Black paintwork, dark-tinted lights and a black grille up front. A rear spoiler and huge 22-inch five-spoke alloys, which replace the standard car’s 18-inch rims, complete the look. Inside, the cabin has been upgraded with two-tone leather upholstery. Under the bonnet, engineers at Nissan’s European Technical Centre in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, have boosted the Murano’s motor with the addition of twin turbochargers. The powerplant now has 345bhp, compared to the standard model’s 234bhp. That means the GT-C’s 0-60mph time will drop to only seven seconds – two seconds faster than standard – and it will have a top speed of 140mph.

Nissan has deemed the SUV’s standard CVT automatic gearbox and four-wheel-drive system to be more than up to the task of transmitting the huge performance to the road. But to make sure the GT-C is equally adept at going around corners, the technicians have stiffened the car’s suspension to reduce body roll and give sharper responses.

Getting its first public outing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 7 July, the GT-C will make its way to the British Motor Show two weeks later. Prices for roadgoing models are expected to start at around чЈ45,000.