Nissan Cefiro

The Nissan Cefiro is an intermediate-size automobile range sold in Japan and other countries. It was available only as a 4 door sedan. A large proportion were equipped with automatic transmissions.

Originally marketed towards the Japanese salaryman the top model used the same engine as found in the R32 Nissan Skyline, a 2 litre turbo charged 6 cylinder engine capable of just over 200 hp (150 kW). Other variants came with other versions of the Nissan RB engine. Brand new, the Cefiro was slightly more expensive than the equivalent Nissan Skyline.

A31

Released in September 1988 to the Japanese Domestic Market, it ceased production in May 1992. The A31 series was noted for its design innovation and incorporation of many hi-tech features. These included HICAS 4-wheel steering, sonar controlled electronic damping, automatic headlights, and an automatic electric rear view mirror, many of which were seen later on the R32 Nissan Skyline, released one year later in 1989.

Although the A31 Cefiro was the first generation with the Cefiro name, it was arguably very close to being a new generation Nissan Laurel, although this was produced at the same time as the Cefiro. Both the Cefiro and Laurel share the distinctive "VIP style" rear windows when they are wound all the way down, closing on a slight angle and well above the door frame, showing through only partially those "VIPs" sitting in the rear seat. The Cefiro is also comparable to being a luxury version Nissan Skyline although these too were produced at the same time as the Cefiro. Mechanically, it was closest to the Nissan Skyline and Nissan Laurel, as they all had the same floorplan; but it is also shares suspension components from the smaller S13 Silvia.

The A31 Cefiro featured several potent versions of the RB-series straight-6 engines including the soon to be legendary intercooled turbo RB20DET (although it was very slightly detuned in the Cefiro). It also was NOT fitted with a re-circulating blowoff valve like the RB20DET powered Nissan Skyline.