Forgotten technology carrier from Japan: Nissan MID 4
Five years before the Honda NSX, another sports car with a V6 mid-engine had already been created in Japan. In September 1985, Nissan presented the MID 4 at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). With its folding headlights, long B-pillars and bright red paintwork, it was unashamedly reminiscent of a Ferrari, but was far more technically sophisticated.
In addition to all-wheel drive (MID 4 stands relatively unspectacularly for "Mid-Engine, 4-Wheel Drive"), the coupé was also equipped with speed-sensitive all-wheel steering, which was intended to improve both handling at high speeds and maneuverability in city traffic. Both systems with the wonderful, typically Japanese acronyms ATTESA (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain) and HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Suspension) were to help the Nissan Skyline GT-R achieve its outstanding driving performance from 1989 onwards.
The engine was comparatively tame. The three-liter V6 came from the Nissan 300 ZX, but thanks to twice the number of valves and camshafts, it produced 230 instead of 170 hp at 6000 rpm. According to Nissan, this should have been enough for 260 km/h and the standard European sprint in 6.1 seconds. Unfortunately, customers were never able to verify this, as the technology carrier remained a one-off.
Only children were able to enjoy a Nissan MID 4 in their garage at the end of the 1980s, as Maisto brought the speedster onto the market in 1:64 scale. In Europe at least, only very few "drivers" probably knew what this sports car with the strange pattern on the roof and front end, which was somewhat reminiscent of the Cuban flag, was supposed to represent. It was red and had a mid-engine. For most people, it was probably just a Ferrari. There are worse associations.
