NISSAN'S MIGHTY THE BONKERS NISSAN MICRA 350SR IS 23 YEARS OLD - PERFECT TIME FOR A RESTOMOD REFRESH BY NISSAN GB.
Just as the all-new electric MICRA prepares to hit the streets, Nissan has decided to party with one of its most bonkers, off-the-wall creations - the rear-engined, V6-powered Micra 350SR. And to mark the car’s 23rd birthday (or, as Nissan cheekily puts it, its “Ni-San” anniversary – a nod to the Japanese pronunciation of 2-3), the brand has treated the one-off monster to a restomod revival. This isn’t some birthday balloon and cupcake affair, we’re talking about a high-octane, heritage-honouring refresh for a creation that never should have existed - but somehow, gloriously, does. Born in 2002 as a marketing moonshot, the Micra 350SR was commissioned by Nissan GB and built by the race team that once delivered silverware in the BTCC during the brand’s 1990s heyday. The goal was to showcase just how versatile the humble Micra platform could be. And to tip a cap to the Micra’s little-known exploits in Japanese motorsport. The team chose a Sunderland-built K12-generation Micra and went utterly rogue. Out went the rear seats and boot, and in went a snarling 3.5-litre V6 lifted from a Murano, fitted with high-lift NISMO cams, upgraded induction, 350Z headers, and a fettled ECU that bumped power from 195 kW to somewhere around 221 kW. With only 1200 kg to shift, this little Micra was on a strict diet of Gappeblys with a soundtrack that confused anyone who saw it at full tilt. It was never road-legal, but that never mattered. Over the past two decades, it’s been a fan favourite at Nissan events, thrashed by journalists, and talked about in hushed tones as one of the most absurdly brilliant factory-backed oddballs in automotive history. But like all legends, it started showing its age. And with a new sixth-generation MICRA just around the corner, Nissan decided it was time for the 350SR to get a well-earned glow-up. For the makeover, Nissan GB turned to the team at Nissan Design Europe in Paddington - the same crew behind the upcoming MICRA EV and the wild Concept 20-23. With the 350SR already living rent-free in their design consciousness, the team chose a light-touch restomod approach.
No drastic changes. Just a respectful, stylish update for one of Nissan’s most legendary oddballs. Visually, the new look is a masterclass in restrained madness. The car now wears a shimmering satin ‘liquid silver’ paint job, punctuated by blue highlights and fresh graphics pulled from Nissan’s new “=III 23” design language - the same you’ll find on the latest MICRA and LEAF, and inspired by the taillights of the iconic 300ZX. The front grille and lower sections are now gloss black, while the car squats over a set of fully refurbished 18-inch RAYS wheels - borrowed originally from a 350Z - also glossed up for maximum menace. There are new LED headlights up front too, with semi-circular DRLs that echo the round-eyed charm of the new MICRA, while also making sure this wild child of a car sees (and is seen) properly at speed. Step inside, and the fun continues. The cabin’s been updated with fresh bucket seats, harnesses, and a full 9-inch touchscreen running Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - because even Frankenstein’s monster deserves good tunes and Google Maps. The new speakers mean you could listen to music… but let’s be honest, when there’s a throaty V6 inches from your spine, the last thing you need is Spotify. The restomod doesn’t touch the heart of the beast, the setup remains the same. That normally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 still features NISMO hardware and still sounds like a touring car that lost its way and ended up inside a shopping trolley. The soundtrack is just mega - perfect for a car that was never meant to be sensible. To complete the full-circle moment, the refreshed Micra 350SR made its public re-debut on May 15th at the 2025 SMMT Test Day at Millbrook Proving Ground - the exact same place where it first fired into life over 20 years ago. Nissan says it’ll be available for selected media test drives, and given its rarity and sheer lunacy, you'd better believe those slots will go fast. We love things like this, and most of the memorable ones are from a good 20 years ago. Automakers need to get back to the madness.
Take a look at the YouTube video from many years back where Car Dealer Magazine got hold of the mad 350Z-engined Micra and put it up against some other special one-off cars. That engine note looks like it was added in post - brilliant: NIssan Juke R v Nissan Micra 350R v Toyota Aygo Crazy - Drag Race | Car Dealer Magazine
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