Nissan beefs up the Rogue in an effort to attract male customers

Nissan will introduce an accessorized version of its Rogue compact crossover in hopes of attracting more male buyers.

The Krom Rogue, on sale Dec. 9, will sticker for about $23,000 in its two-wheel-drive version and about $25,000 as a four-wheel-drive. That's a premium of $2,000 to $4,000 over models without accessories.

The Krom versions will feature an entirely new front end with a mesh grille, fog lights, rear spoiler, tinted glass, center exhaust pipes and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Rogue, introduced in fall 2007, has become Nissan's second-best seller after the Altima sedan. Rogue sales have averaged about 6,500 units a month this year, up from about 6,000 a month last year.

But sales have been skewing more toward female buyers than expected, said Patrick Steiner, director of sales and marketing for Nissan North America's Specialty Vehicles and Accessories unit. He said women account for about 55 percent of Rogue buyers.

"The Krom Rogue will look a little more masculine," Steiner said while standing alongside a prototype black Krom model at Nissan's North American headquarters here. "We think it will attract a higher percentage of male buyers.

"Krom allows us to expand our reach with the model. We think we can get incremental sales."

The Krom subbrand, managed through Nissan's accessory sales operation, debuted this year as a decked-out option package on the new Nissan Cube.

Steiner says more Krom products are planned.

By Lindsay Chappell- Automotive News