| Nissan MID4 | |
|---|---|
 1987 Nissan MID4 II | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Nissan |
| Production | 1985–1987 |
| Designer | Shinichiro Sakurai |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Concept car |
| Body style | 2-doorcoupe |
| Layout | Mid engine,all-wheel drive |
TheMID4 was an experimentalsports car produced byNissan.
First unveiled at the 1985International Motor Show Germany, the MID4 was a concept car designed byNissan to originally go on sale in the mid-late 1980s.Nissan had aimed the MID4 to compete with European supercars fromPorsche andFerrari. It featured amid-engine, all-wheel-drive layout as well as a wide array of technology and features that would eventually find their way into other Nissan production cars. The MID4 would be succeeded by the MID4 II, though it would also never be having into production.[1]
The responsibility of creating the MID4 was given to a team of designers headed byShinichiro Sakurai in the spring of 1984. The first four prototypes were completed by March 1985.
| MID4 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-doorcoupe |
| Layout | Transverse,Mid engine,all-wheel drive |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.0 L (2,960 cc)VG30DEV6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,435 mm (95.9 in) |
| Length | 4,150 mm (163.4 in) |
| Width | 1,770 mm (69.7 in) |
| Height | 1,198 mm (47.2 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,230 kg (2,712 lb) |
The MID4 was first unveiled at the 1985 Frankfurt Autoshow. The design was inspired by the contemporary mid-engine European sports cars of the time such as theLotus Esprit and theFerrari Testarossa. Its all wheel drive system distributed the power from the newly designedVG30DE engine with 33% to the front and 67% to the rear, and was the predecessor to theATTESA system. The naturally aspirated V6 engine was rated at 245 PS (242 hp; 180 kW). The MID4 was also the first car to feature Nissan's brand newHICAS four-wheel steering system and had a claimed top speed of 249 km/h (155 mph). A multi-link rear suspension and the double wishbone front suspension were added for better handling. The ATTESA and the HICAS systems would eventually make their way to theNissan Skyline GT-R in 1989.[2]
| MID4-II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-doorcoupe |
| Layout | Longitudinal,Mid engine,all-wheel drive |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.0 L (2,960 cc)VG30DETT V6 twin turbo |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,435 mm (95.9 in) |
| Length | 4,150 mm (163.4 in) |
| Height | 1,198 mm (47.2 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,400 kg (3,086 lb) |
The MID4-II made its debut at the 1987Tokyo Motor Show and featured many revisions to the previous design. The most significant change apart from the design, which resembling to Honda's laterNSX, was the intercooling twin turbocharged VG30DETT which was rated at 330 PS (243 kW) and 245 lb⋅ft (332 N⋅m) of torque. The MID4-II was ultimately never produced due to cost. The engine would later make its way in theNissan 300ZX which debuted in 1989.[3]
