Nissan MID4#MID4-II

First unveiled at the 1985 International Motor Show Germany, the MID4 was a concept car designed by Nissan to originally go on sale in the mid-late 1980s. Nissan had aimed the MID4 to compete with European supercars from Porsche and Ferrari. It featured a mid-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 evolve into the MID4 II, though it would never be put into production.{{cite web|url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/nissan-mid4-mid4-ii-concept-cars-history-photos-info/|title="Nissan MID4 and MID4-II: The Mid-Engined Supercars That Almost Happened"|date=2020-10-20|publisher=Motor Trend|access-date=2021-11-29}}

The responsibility of creating the MID4 was given to a team of designers headed by Shinichiro Sakurai in the spring of 1984. The first four prototypes were completed by March 1985.

{{Infobox automobile

| name = MID4

| image = Nissan MID4 front-left 2015 Motorsport Japan.jpg

| body_style = 2-door coupe

| layout = Transverse, Mid engine, all-wheel drive

| wheelbase = {{convert|2435|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|4150|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|1770|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|1198|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|1230|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| engine = {{convert|2960|cc|L|1|abbr=on|order=flip}} VG30DE V6

| transmission = 5-speed manual

| related = {{ubl|Nissan 300ZX|Nissan Skyline GT-R}}

}}

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 the Lotus Esprit and the Ferrari Testarossa. Its all wheel drive system distributed the power from the newly designed VG30DE engine with 33% to the front and 67% to the rear, and was the predecessor to the ATTESA system. The naturally aspirated V6 engine was rated at {{cvt|245|PS|hp kW|0|abbr=on}}. The MID4 was also the first car to feature Nissan's brand new HICAS four-wheel steering system and had a claimed top speed of {{convert|155|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}. 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 the Nissan Skyline GT-R in 1989.{{cite web|url=https://www.motor1.com/news/147102/concept-we-forgot-nissan-mid4/|title="Concept We Forgot: 1985 Nissan MID4, 1987 MID4 Type II"|date=2017-05-31|author=Adrian Padeanu|publisher=Motor1|access-date=2021-11-29}}

File:Nissan MID4 rear-right 2015 Motorsport Japan.jpg

{{clear}}

File:Nissan MID4 II rear.jpg

{{Infobox automobile

| image = Nissan MID4 II.jpg

| name = MID4-II

| body_style = 2-door coupe

| layout = Longitudinal, Mid engine, all-wheel drive

| wheelbase = {{convert|2435|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|4150|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|1198|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|1400|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| engine = {{convert|2960|cc|L|1|abbr=on|order=flip}} VG30DETT V6 twin turbo

| transmission = 5-speed manual

| related = {{ubl|Nissan 300ZX|Nissan Skyline GT-R}}

}}

The MID4-II made its debut at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show and featured many revisions to the previous design. The most significant change apart from the design, resembling the Honda NSX, was the twin turbo intercooled VG30DETT which was rated at {{cvt|330|PS|kW|0}} and {{cvt|245|lbft|Nm|0}} of torque. The MID4-II was ultimately never produced due to cost. The engine would later make its way in the Nissan 300ZX which debuted in 1989.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorbiscuit.com/nissan-mid4-japanese-supercar-that-never-was/|title="Nissan MID4: the Japanese Supercar That Never Was"|date=2021-10-23|author=Brian Grabianowski|publisher=Motorbiscuit|access-date=2021-11-29}}

{{Commons category multi|Nissan MID4|Nissan MID4 II}}

• Nissan 300ZX
• Nissan Skyline
• ATTESA
• HICAS
• Nissan VG engine
• Nissan
• Honda NSX

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/HERITAGE/nissan_mid_4_type_ii.html Nissan | Heritage Collection | Nissan MID 4 (Type II)]

{{Nissan}}

MID4

Category:Rear mid-engine, all-wheel-drive vehicles