The all-new 2013 Pathfinder was unveiled by Japanese automaker Nissan in Lower Manhattan on Thursday, amid the company's claims that the fourth-generation SUV will boast the best fuel efficiency in its category.

According to the details shared by Nissan, the new seven-seat Pathfinder - which was confirmed in early 2012 - does away with the boxy style of the present Pathfinder model in favor of a curvy new look that works its way across the line-up.

Marking a drift from the off-roading focus of the outgoing Pathfinder, the shape of the new 2013 Pathfinder is more on the lines of the road-focused platform of the Infiniti JX SUV.

Moreover, in comparison to its predecessor which has a body-on-frame design - which is essentially the common vehicle-construction form for pickup trucks and heavy-duty SUVs -, the 2013 Pathfinder rides on a much lighter unibody platform that offers a more car-like ride.

Boasting a notably sleek and aerodynamic exterior, the design of the new Pathfinder has much smoother and more contemporary than the old Pathfinder which had slab sides and jutting fenders. The front of the new SUV is largely dominated by a chrome-edged grille, with wide, swept-back headlights framing it.

Noting that Nissan has revamped the Pathfinder's construction for the new 2013 model, Adam O'Shaughnessy - Nissan North America's senior product planner - said that the key factors that the automaker focused on while developing the new Pathfinder were: "change in consumer taste" and desire for "better ride comfort and torsional stiffness."