I Rode in the Bonkers Mid-Engined Nissan Micra 350SR!
Think the Nissan Micra is a sensible little supermini for your nan? Think again. Because this one… this one is utterly mad. I’m talking about the Nissan Micra 350SR – a rare, rear-wheel drive, mid-engined Micra, powered by a V6 and tuned up with 350Z bits to produce a whopping 300bhp. I remember when it was first unleashed 23 years ago as a mad marketing exercise by Nissan. Never thought that one day I would have a go in it – well, a passenger ride to be precise – at Millbrook Proving Ground during the 2025 SMMT Test Day. And yes, it was just as unhinged as it sounds.
Micra with Muscle – The Backstory
Back in 2002, Nissan GB decided to blow a few minds. They took a humble K12 Micra, built in Sunderland, and handed it to the same racing engineers behind their 1990s BTCC success. The result? A bespoke chassis housing a 3.5-litre V6, breathing through NISMO high-lift cams and custom headers from a 350Z.
Originally pushing out around 265bhp, the car’s now been tuned closer to the 300 mark. With a kerb weight of just 1200kg, the power-to-weight ratio is frankly laugh-out-loud nuts – especially in a Micra.
This was a one-off PR and engineering exercise meant to demonstrate the adaptability of the brand and tip a hat to the Nissan’s unsung motorsport heritage in Japan.
23 Years Later… It’s Been Refreshed!
To celebrate its 23rd anniversary – or ‘Ni-San’ anniversary, as the number 23 is special in Nissan’s world (‘ni’ = 2, ‘san’ = 3 in Japanese) – the 350SR has been given a new lease of life with a restomod refresh.
Nissan Design Europe, the same team responsible for the new MICRA EV and the Concept 20-23, gave it a visual and tech update. It now sports a satin ‘liquid silver’ wrap with vivid blue highlights, new graphics based on Nissan’s modern ‘=III 23’ motif, gloss black trim, and refreshed 18-inch RAYS 350Z alloys.
The headlights are now modern LEDs with semi-circular DRLs, while inside you get new racing seats, harnesses, and even a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Yes, you can stream your favourite tunes while the V6 roars behind your head. Madness!
My Ride-Along Experience
This car wasn’t just sitting pretty for photos – it was giving journalists high-speed passenger laps around Millbrook’s handling circuit. I was lucky enough to jump in on the very last run of the day.
From the moment we fired up, the engine’s roar completely dominated – music to the ears of any petrolhead. With Nick Jackson at the wheel, we blasted off. Grip, body roll, steering input – everything about the 350SR felt razor-sharp. It danced across the tarmac, pushing through corners with more agility than a hot hatch and more drama than a touring car.
I was holding on to the door handle and yelling over the engine (which totally drowned me out) giggling as the tail kicked out and just as quickly snapped back. The sheer speed, noise, and exhilaration of being in this mutant Micra was worth every second.
Why This Matters
Let’s be honest – in an era of EVs and software-limited SUVs, this barking mad one-off is a refreshing reminder of what car companies can do when they let engineers off the leash. It’s passion-fuelled nonsense. And it’s wonderful.
It’s also a clever move. As Nissan ramps up to launch the new electric Micra, they’re reminding us that performance and passion have always been part of the brand’s DNA. That connection between heritage and future is exactly what gets enthusiasts like us talking.
The Nissan Micra 350SR isn’t just a curious footnote in automotive history – it’s a cult hero. And now, with its slick new look and some modern tech sprinkled in, it’s ready to shine all over again.
Will we ever see something like this again? Probably not. But it managed to do today, what it did for Nissan back in 2002, capture our attention and our imagination!
Let me know in the comments: Should Nissan build more mad one-offs like this? Would you drive a Micra with 300bhp?
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