Nissan UK restores gobsmacking Micra 350SR

Back when car manufacturers could be more silly, Nissan and RML decided to have some fun with the Micra. A bit like Renault and TWR had done in the late ’90s with the Clio V6, it was decided that the early 2000s K12 Micra would really benefit from rear-wheel drive and a big V6 in its middle. The resulting car, the Micra 350SR, was a mad little thing – and much loved as a result. It existed, officially, ‘to demonstrate the Micra platform’s adaptability and to celebrate the model’s little-known racing pedigree in Japanese motorsport’, but really it always felt like a ‘for the hell of it’ attitude prevailed. 

Having been away from the limelight for many years now, the 350SR is back in business. The restoration work has been commissioned by Nissan to drum up some interest in the Micra ahead of an imminent EV version; the new light designs seen here are a nod to what’s coming for the supermini. The livery has been overhauled as well; what was once predominantly red is now liquid silver with blue accents. The wonderful Rays wheels from a 350Z have been retained, which is great news, though for some unfathomable reason the refurbishment has involved painting them black. Nothing’s perfect. 

Speaking of the 350Z, the SR’s main appeal remains present and correct: it’s still powered by the 3.5-litre V6. It wasn’t a stock unit, either, benefiting from spicy NISMO cams, an ECU upgrade, and induction tweak for more than 300hp. In a Micra! The 350 will surely feel wilder than ever, 23 years after it was first made. 

That anniversary is significant for Nissan, too. The number 23 is important because ‘2’ (ni) and 3 (‘san’) together in Japanese sound like Nissan, so that’s why it used to be seen so much on its factory racing cars. And why the rescue mission has happened now. Completing the 2025 makeover is Apple CarPlay, because no claim to restomodification is complete without it. Nissan suggests streaming music ‘when cruising or while parked, because the engine retains all of its aural extravagance.’ There really will be an opportunity to test that, too, as Nissan will let the 350SR out to the media just as it did 20 years ago. We’re battling our way to the front of that queue immediately.