By Antti Kautonen
The 1987 Nissan MID-4 II concept was the logical successor to the 1985 MID-4. At this point, the design had evolved from the sharper, compact-looking 1985 car to a more fluid, more LeMans sort of work. The front works, but the rear is an another question altogether.
The front actually brings to mind the early-’90s Lotus Elan FWD, as it’s all wide cheeks and pop-up headlights. Top marks for this.
But the rear: what? The rear fascia moulds late Z31 taillights onto a curiously wide rear, and the haunches overpower the somewhat inset wheels.
Instead of the earlier car’s naturally aspirated VG30DE, the MID-4 II uses the DETT version of the same engine, producing 330hp.
The interior is a realisation of partsbin-looking stuff, with R32 Skyline / Z32 300ZX / S13 200SX lines here and there.
All in all, I definitely prefer the earlier MID-4. It’s a crisper, more natural-looking car, and right now, on the street it would look like a definite classic. The newer car is merely bloated and plasticky in an early-’90s superhero comic fashion.
[Images: Nissan / minkara.carview.co.jp]
Bradley Brownell
Knee jerk reaction: Japan builds a Testarossa for the 1990's.
The previous Mid-4 looked like an Esprit knock-off. Except for the engine bump, this one deserved far better.
We hadn't seen the last of that basic taillight shape:
<img src="http://img.favcars.com/infiniti/q45/infiniti_q45_1989_wallpapers_1_b.jpg" width="500" />
Holy shit! The Ferrari NSX!
Pic #2: NSX
Pic #5: Ford Probe
EWWW
…and this is before Renault's influence?
In 1987 they were planning a future selling wheeled scrotum slippers…
<img src="http://img.favcars.com/renault/concepts/images_renault_concepts_1987_1_b.jpg">
I'll admit the original MID-4 was a more cohesive design, but I sort of like this better. I'm a child of the early 90s.
I would also like to see how this would've evolved if it made production.
….and in back we have a very small coffin for the hopes and dreams that the front end and side view inspires.
The proportions of the MID4 are so much better. The MID4II seems a bit awkward in comparison.
The nose looks like the love child of an NSX and an SW20 MR2. The roofline looks very SW20 as well. Not a good thing when your concept looks much more like the product of other companies than your own. But it was damn interesting from a technological standpoint. I wish they'd have pursued this further, an MR2 sized AWD mid-engine car with VG30DETT power? I'll take three.