Nissan Murano, 2003

Designer: Shiro Nakamura

The Nissan Murano was one of the first "crossover" vehicles. The term refers to SUV-style vehicles built on top of car frames, not truck frames. Not really meant for serious off-roading, the Murano still had many of the things SUV owners loved, including bigger cargo and passenger space with more style and panache than a minivan. It's part sport utility, part station wagon, part sporty sedan.

Like the Infiniti FX45, the design merges different types of automobiles: The top half is sleek like a car while the bottom is bulky like a truck. The Infiniti FX45 and Murano "are not 'me too' cars that blend in," says Dan Gorrell, vice-president of research firm Strategic Vision, which tracks the automotive industry.