Picture this: it’s the mid-1980s, and Nissan is catering to sports car enthusiasts with the entry-level Silvia (S12) and the 300ZX (Z31). At the same time, the Skyline GT-R (R32) is deep in development. But behind closed doors, engineers are working on something entirely different: a car with its engine mounted behind the seats.
At the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show, Nissan unveiled the MID Type I. Officially a concept, it was more like a fully functional prototype. Like many Japanese sports cars of that era, it was an engineering marvel. Its all-wheel-drive system sent two-thirds of the engine’s power to the rear axle. An evolution of this setup later appeared in the R32, launched four years afterward with ATTESA, short for (deep breath) Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain.
First introduced on the Skyline R31, the concept also featured Nissan’s all-wheel-steering system, dubbed HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Steering). At lower speeds, it moved the rear wheels by less than one degree in the opposite direction of the fronts to reduce the turning circle. At higher speeds, all four wheels steered in the same direction, improving stability in corners.
The MID Type I rode on a double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear, just as any respectable sports car should. At its heart was a transversely mounted 3.0-liter V-6. The then-new VG30DE made 227 horsepower in the concept and would later power several models, including the Z32 300ZX. That output may not sound like much today, but the car weighed only about 2,712 pounds.
1985 Nissan MID 4 Type I concept
As for styling, it wasn’t exactly breathtaking. There were shades of Ferrari Testarossa and BMW M1, mixed with hints of Lotus Esprit and perhaps a Porsche 944. Exciting it wasn’t, but the idea of a mid-engine Nissan piqued curiosity at the German car event and again at the Tokyo Motor Show a month later. For its domestic debut, Nissan brought a slightly different version, painted red and configured with right-hand drive.
Although the MID Type I seemed ready for production, it never happened. Despite a warm reception, Nissan went quiet for a couple of years. Little did anyone know that a follow-up was in development, one that addressed the generic styling of the original while further improving its technical package.
1987 Nissan MID 4 Type II concept
The MID Type II debuted at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show with a radically different look. It appeared far more sophisticated and original. Essentially, an NSX before the NSX. Its design hinted at the 1990s, with taillights that later appeared on the Silvia/240SX S14. We can only imagine the massive power bulge with its built-in third brake light must have hampered visibility, but it sure looked cool.
Beyond the new bodywork, there was a major change at the back. This time, Nissan mounted a V-6 longitudinally and strapped on a pair of turbochargers to boost output. Later used in the 300ZX Twin Turbo, the VG30DETT produced 325 hp in a car that had gained some weight over its predecessor.
The MID Type II tipped the scales at 3,086 pounds; still a figure we can only dream of today for most performance cars. Measuring 169.3 inches long and 73.2 inches wide, it was slightly shorter but significantly wider than the original NSX, which wouldn’t debut until years later.
Although both MID concepts were forward-thinking, their future never materialized. Nissan shelved the project despite investing in two cars. Still, the work wasn’t wasted. Much of the technology, and even some styling cues, filtered into other sports cars. Yet it’s hard not to wonder what might have happened had the MID reached production.
Chances are, it would have launched around the same time as the NSX, giving European brands twice as many reasons to worry about competition from Japan.
