The MID4 was an experimental sports car built by Nissan. It was first shown at the 1985 International Motor Show in Germany as a concept for a car meant to reach production in the mid-to-late 1980s and to compete with European supercars from Porsche and Ferrari. It was followed by the MID4-II, which also never entered production.
Nissan MID4 at a glance
| First shown | 1985 Frankfurt show |
|---|---|
| Second version | MID4-II, 1987 Tokyo Motor Show |
| Design team | led by Shinichiro Sakurai, from spring 1984 |
| Prototypes | four completed by March 1985 |
| Layout | mid-engine, all-wheel drive |
| MID4 engine | VG30DE naturally aspirated V6, 245 PS |
| MID4-II engine | VG30DETT twin-turbo V6, 330 PS |
| Top speed | 250 km/h claimed for the MID4 |
| Technology | first car with HICAS four-wheel steering; predecessor of ATTESA |
| Production | never built; dropped because of cost |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan MID4.
History of the Nissan MID4
Origins
Responsibility for the MID4 was given in spring 1984 to a team of designers headed by Shinichiro Sakurai, and the first four prototypes were completed by March 1985. The design was inspired by contemporary mid-engined European sports cars such as the Lotus Esprit and Ferrari Testarossa. Nissan aimed the car at the market for Porsche and Ferrari, with the idea that it would go on sale in the second half of the 1980s.
The first MID4
Unveiled at the 1985 Frankfurt show, the MID4 used the new VG30DE V6 of 245 PS with an all-wheel-drive system that sent a third of the power to the front and two thirds to the rear, the forerunner of ATTESA. It was the first car to use Nissan’s new HICAS four-wheel steering and had a claimed top speed of 250 km/h. Double wishbones at the front and a multi-link rear suspension were fitted for handling. ATTESA and HICAS both reached the Skyline GT-R in 1989.
MID4-II
The MID4-II made its debut at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show with a much more finished design, resembling what became the Honda NSX. The main mechanical change was an intercooled twin-turbocharged VG30DETT rated at 330 PS at 6,800 rpm and 39 kg·m of torque at 3,200 rpm. The car was ultimately never produced because of cost, and the engine went on to appear in the Nissan 300ZX of 1989.
Design and features
- Mid-engine layout: a supercar arrangement Nissan had not built before.
- HICAS debut: the first car with Nissan’s four-wheel steering.
- ATTESA forerunner: one third of the power to the front wheels.
- VG30DETT: the twin-turbo V6 that later powered the 300ZX.
Nissan MID4 versions
- MID4 (1985): 245 PS VG30DE, all-wheel drive and HICAS.
- MID4-II (1987): 330 PS twin-turbo, restyled body.
The MID4 previewed technology used in the Skyline GT-R and engines later fitted to the 300ZX. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Sources
- Nissan MID4, English Wikipedia: development, MID4 and MID4-II engineering, why it was not built
