Nissan has revealed a restomod of one of the maddest cars it has ever built; the one-off mid-engined Micra 350SR.
Originally commissioned more than twenty years ago by Nissan in the UK, the Micra 350SR was based on a Sunderland-built 2002 Micra K12 and was created by Ray Mallock Limited (RML - the racing team responsible for Nissan’s success in British Touring Car racing during the 1990s) when it jammed a V6 into the Micra R concept that had debuted at Goodwood the previous year.
Intended to demonstrate the "adaptability of the Micra platform" and highlight the Micra's motorsport history (yes, really; Nissan first raced the Micra in 1987 in the sub-1600cc Group A class, and the diminutive car would go on to compete in rallying, ice racing, autocross and numerous one-make Micra/March championships around the globe), the 350SR was powered by the aforementioned 3.5-litre engine block sourced from a Murano, modified with headers from a 350Z and Nismo high-lift cams and induction.
A modified ECU increased the V6's power from 198kW to approximately 224kW and, with 363Nm of torque and a weight of 1200kg, Nissan conservatively describes the performance as "more than adequate". Despite the motorsport-inspiration, mid-mounted V6 and roll cage, the 350SR was actually a road-going showcase, and was tested by numerous UK publications, with Evo magazine even running it as a long-term test car in 2007.
The refresh comes as the 350SR celebrates its 23rd birthday and Nissan says it "aimed to respect the car's heritage while updating its look" when allowing designers at Nissan Design Europe in London, the team behind the new Micra EV and the Concept 20-23 showcar, to update the mad mid-engined Micra.
The updated exterior features a satin ‘liquid silver’ base combined with blue accents and new graphics that incorporate Nissan’s new ‘=III 23’ iconography that the company says was inspired by the rear lights of the 300ZX.
The grille and lower sections are finished in gloss black, as are the refurbished original 18-inch RAYS 350Z alloy wheels. New LED headlights with semi-circular daytime running lights provide a modern look and improved visibility, while also referencing the new Micra.
Inside, the 350SR's interior has also been updated with new seats and harnesses, and the addition of a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen that offers Apple Carplay and Android Auto functionality for navigation and entertainment.
But why celebrate a 23rd anniversary? Well, far from being a weirdly random number, 23 is a significant number for Nissan, as the company's name sounds like the Japanese pronunciation of '2' (ni) and '3' (san), and the number has been associated with Nismo racing cars for nearly 40 years.
The refreshed Micra 350SR publicly debuted at the 2025 SMMT Test Day at Millbrook Proving Ground, the same location used during its development over two decades ago.
