Seriously considering an A31 Cefiro..
The following information about the A31 comes from Wikipedia and StrikeEngine:
---
Wikipedia says:
A31(1988-1994)
Released in September 1988 to the Japanese market, it ceased production in May 1994. The A31 series included many hi-tech features, such as 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.
The A31 Cefiro was similar to the Nissan Laurel. The Cefiro is something like a luxury Nissan Skyline although these two 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 floorpan; but it shares its MacPherson strut front suspension with the S13 Silvia with the exception of the 4WD version which shares the same front and rear suspension as the GT-R and GTS4 Skyline.
The A31 Cefiro featured several versions of the RB-series straight-6 engines including the intercooled turbo RB20DET, although it was slightly detuned in the Cefiro. It also was not fitted with a re-circulating blowoff valve like the RB20DET powered Nissan Skyline.
It was also, together with the Nissan Skyline, one of the first Japanese cars to have a 5-speed automatic transmission in the 2.5 litre and the very last of the 2 litre models. All 2 litre turbo versions with automatic transmissions used a 4-speed transmission.
Unlike many new car designs at the time, the A31 Cefiro was rear wheel drive, with all-wheel drive models being available as well. Unlike the future versions of the Nissan Laurels and Nissan Skylines, the Cefiro would become a front wheel drive in all models following the A31 Cefiro.
At the beginning of its production it was mostly overlooked as just an ordinary family sedan compared to the Nissan Skyline but in later times it has become very popular in the drifting scene. Spurred by the relatively cheap price of the car compared to other drifting vehicles in Japan, some enthusiasts bought the Cefiro for use in drifting. As a result this car has gained cult status in Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Australia as a drift car due to the interchangeability of parts with other performance models and highly tunable nature of the chassis design. It is also a relatively cheap car outside Japan as it is exported second hand.
This chassis was also the basis for the S13 chassis in the Nissan Silvia.
[edit] Specifications
[edit] General specifications
Body type: Sedan
Drive: RWD Displacement: 1998cc N/A and turbo, 2498cc N/A
[edit] Engine Specs
Engine model: RB20E, RB20DE, RB24S, RB25DE, RB20DET
Max.power: 205 PS (151 kW) / 6400 rpm RB20DET
Max.power: 190 PS (138 kW) / 6400 rpm RB25DE
Max.power: 155 PS (114 kW) / 6400 rpm RB20DE
Max.power: 141 PS (107 kW) / 5600 rpm RB24S
Max.power: 125 PS (91.94 kW) / 5600 rpm RB20E
Turbo Information: Ceramic
Fuel system: NISSAN EGI (ECCS) (electronic gasoline injection) electrically controlled gasoline injection
Turbocharger: Intercooled turbo
Fuel type: Unleaded premium gasoline
[edit] Exterior specifications
Exterior dimensions (LxWxH): 4690 x 1695 x 1375 mm
Interior dimensions (LxWxH): 1910 x 1425 x 1140 mm
Wheel base: 2670 mm
Ground clearance: 150 mm
Curb vehicle weight: 1350 kg (auto turbo) 1330 kg (manual turbo) 1260 kg (manual RB20E) 1280 kg (auto RB20E) 1300 kg (RB20DE manual) 1320 kg (RB20DE auto), 1400kg (auto turbo 4wd)
Seating capacity: 5
Doors number: 4
Min. turning radius: 5 m
Fuel tank capacity: 65
[edit] Suspension specifications
Power steering: Yes
Suspension system: front Independent suspension strut type
Suspension system: rear Independent suspension multiple link type
| Model | Engine | Frame | Year |
| Townride | RB20E | E-HA31GFE | 1988 |
| Townride | RB20E | E-HCA31GFE | 1988 |
| Townride | RB20E | E-HA31GAEP | 1988 |
| Touring | RB20DE | E-RA31GFE | 1988 |
| Sport touring | RB20DE | E-RCA31GFE | 1988 |
| MF Comfort touring | RB20DE | E-RA31GAEP | 1988 |
| Cruising | RB20DET | E-RA31GFS | 1988 |
| Sport cruising | RB20DET | E-RCA31GFS | 1988 |
| Townride N | RB20E | E-A31 | 1990 |
| ATTESA cruising | RB20DET | E-NA31 | 1990 (4WD) |
| Townride SV | RB20E | E-A31 | 1991 |
| Touring SV | RB20DE | E-A31 | 1991 |
| VL | RB20E | E-LA31 | 1992 |
| SE | RB20E | E-LA31 | 1992 |
| VE | RB20DE | E-LA31 | 1992 |
| 25SSE | RB25DE | E-EA31 | 1992 |
| SE-T | RB20DET | E-LA31 | 1992 |
| 25SSE M selection | RB25DE | E-EA31 | 1992 |
| SE-4 | RB20DET | E-LNA31 | 1992 (4WD) |
There are also many "sub models" which are the same as the above listed but feature HICAS 4 wheel steering as well. Nissan took the unusual step of making a left hand drive version of the Cefiro. Unlike all the Japanese versions it was fitted with a carburetted RB24 which was a single cam 6 cylinder 2.4L RB series motor.
Later models were given a softer look with revised light and bumper/grill design as well as "interior softening". These are referred to as the "facelift" shape and appear a little more refined in appearance.
[edit] Modifications
The most common engine modification is the RB25DET engine swap, which gives the car higher torque than the RB20DET engine, suited better for drifting. Others have successfully swapped an RB26DETT engine (as used in the Skyline GT-R R32-R34) with some minor oil sump modifications, along with an RB25DET gearbox. Some tuners prefer to use the lighter and more compact SR20DET using the RB25DET gearbox. Also many of the Silvia (S13), Laurel (C33) and Skyline (R32) parts are interchangeable, which gives flexibility in choosing parts.
---
StrikeEngine says:
Background
The First Generation Nissan Cefiro,
chassis code A31, was built from
1988-1993. The car was aimed at the
executive end of the market and
competed with small to medium sized
luxury cars from Europe. The beauty of
this car is that it is based upon the
Nissan Skyline R32 Platform, which in
turn shares parts with the Nissan S13,
which means that this car has a host of
performance parts available for it.
The Nissan Cefiro was offered with a 2
Litre 2.0, Normally Aspirated (N/A)
powerplant as well as the RB20DET
which puts out 220bhp as standard
and is a detuned version of the
straight six found in the R32 GTS-T
from the same era. This means that
uprated parts for the RB20 are readily
available.
Engine Tuning
A common stage one upgrade for the Cefiro is to fit a larger turbo charger, followed bt a front mounted intercooler, performance chip and exhaust system. These basic modifications can take the output of the RB20 up to 300bhp at the rear wheels. However 300bhp is
starting to push the limits of the standard engine.
Nissan Cefiro Engine Swap/Engine Conversion options.
A popular choice of engine for a swap is the Nissan RB25DET, this is easily capable of taking power over 300bhp but if your looking for 400bhp plus then the ultimate choice is the RB26DET engine. These Nissan AWD GT-R engines will entail some extra mechanical work to make them fit in the RWD chassis of the Cefiro. This entails grinding of the front differential and adding a custom sump. Along with some possible engine mount modifications and the normal wiring loom, power steering and plumbing issues usually associated with engine swaps the transplant can be achieved.
If this sounds like to big a job then another popular conversion uses the SR20DET motor. The SR20DE is not only lighter than the RB20DET but it also improves handling as the motor can be mounted further back in the chassis. The SR20DET is capable of being built to produce 300bhp all day long and turns the Cefiro into a lightweight missile.
As the Nissan Cefiro usually came with an automatic gearbox, changing this is a priority to extract maximum performance. There are many options from the RB series which should require minimal engineering to fit the Cefiro, although the use of a speedo converter may need to be used as all Nissan Cefiros use a cable speedo drive.
For Australian enthusiasts, the VL Turbo Commodore gearbox may be worth a look as it is almost identical to some of the Skyline gearboxes. The R200/R180 diffs can also be interchanged to alter the gearing.looking
The Cefiro is no looker but it is by no means the ugliest car ever produced with the interior looking particularly dated now, but if you can get pass this it is a well equipped saloon with electric everything, such as seats, mirrors, windows and cruise control. The upgrade options listed here are by no means cover everything, a little looking around should turn up many more possibilities.
Considering the cost of these cars and their modding potential they are very attractive if your looking a racer/drifter on a budget. To find the latest prices for the Nissan Cefiro, the Japanese Car importers on StrikeEngine should be able to give you an idea of how much it will cost to import and register a Nissan Cefiro in the UK.
---
No comments:
Post a Comment