The names were brought into line with the home U.S. and Japanese markets with the launch of the FJR30 series in 1981, which was built on a C31 Laurel platform. The FJR30 was available as a four door sedans, a two door coupe, a 2800 cc diesel (4 door sedan only), a four door hatchback version and a 4 door wagon version. The wagon version was the ugly ducking of the range with different lights and no turbo or six cylinder versions available, it more closely resembled a Nissan Sunny than Skyline. In all, there were 26 variations. All versions with the exception of the wagon were usually fitted with the four round tail lights that had become a regular feature to the Skylines' design. The 2 door version had pillarless doors and the unusual feature of electric roll-down quarter windows for the rear seat passengers. The 4 door had traditional framed door windows.

Models:

KHR30 = Coupe HR30 = Sedan

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1983

The 1983 R30 version now sported four wheel disc brakes as standard (optional until this time) and various engines, the best models being the twin cam 4 cylinder turbo FJ20 or the single cam 6 cylinder turbo LT20ET. Although making about the same power, the FJ-engined version was more of a racer without as many heavy extras on the car (electric windows, air conditioning, etc). Some of the top spec GT-ES models featured adjustable suspension dampers that could be adjusted while driving, this was a first for mass produced JDM vehicles. Nissan Glorias and Laurels also used the LT series engines as well as some diesel (Laurel only) variants. In Japan there are still dedicated "one make" drag racing for the FJ20 powered FJR30 Skylines.

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R31

The HR31 Skyline of 1986 was a natural evolution on the HR30 shape and featured RB-series straight-6 engines, which would go on to make this car a legend with drivers all over the world. The design was slightly larger and squarer than previous Skylines.

The R31 Skyline was also produced in Australia, with a 3.0 motor (RB30E) available in sedan or wagon form, as well as a four-cylinder version called the Nissan Pintara. The wagon had the same front style as the coupe and sedan—the only difference being that it lacked the four round brake lights that had been a consistent element of Skyline design. These cars were manufactured in Australia due to the heavy import laws which made it expensive to bring cars into Australia.

29,305 R31 Skylines were also manufactured and sold in South Africa in 4-door sedan form between 1987 and 1992. These were the last Skylines seen in South Africa. Power came from either the RB30E 3.0 straight-6 motor, RB20E 2.0 straight-6 motor or the CA20S 4-cylinder powerplant.

The R31 Skyline introduced many new technologies and features that were improved upon in later models. The HR31 was the first Skyline to be equipped with the new RB-series of engines. This RB series motor is usually referred to as a "red top" RB engine due to its cam covers being red and was available in three variants. The earliest series of DOHC RB engines used the "NICS" (nissan induction control system) injection system with 12 very small intake runners, and a butterly system to divide the intake ports in half for better low RPM performance. Later versions integrated ECCS (electronic combustion control system), discarded the six tiny runners for six much larger ones (though they retained the butterfly system), and received a slightly larger turbocharger. The ultimate version of these motors was the RB20DET-R Group A homologation motor, found in the HR31 Skyline GTS-R (800 units built), which incorporated a much larger turbocharger on a stainless steel exhaust manifold, as well as a much larger front mounted intercooler boosting power to 210ps (racing versions made 460 hp in Group A trim). Also new to the lineup was the Diesel-powered variants, using Nissan's RD28, a 2.8 straight-6 engine. Another technological first for the R31 was the introduction of Nissan's proprietary 4-wheel steering system, dubbed HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering). The R31 series were also the only models in the Skyline family to feature a 4-door hardtop variation. These models were generally badged as the Passage GT.

Nissan decided to point this model more at luxury than peformance, resulting in worse sales than that of the R30, causing it to be called "the Skyline that nobody liked". Nissan introduced a special performance model later in this generation's life, which revived interest in the R31, but sales were still bad. This generation's successor, the R32, had dramatically better sales, because Nissan would go back to the old formula of performance over luxury. [citation needed]

Models: 'Japan'

'Australia'

'South Africa'

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R32


R32 Skyline.



R32 Skyline.


The HR32 Skyline debuted in May 1989, beginning the revitalization of the model. This series was available as either a hardtop 2-door or 4-door sedan/saloon. It would feature several potent versions of the RB-series straight-6 engines which had improved heads over the previous version and used the "ECCS" (electronic combustion control system) injection system. Also available were an 1800 cc 4 cylinder GXi model. HICAS four wheel steering was available on most models, with the rear wheels being hydraulically linked to the front steering. The 2.5 litre version became one of the first cars made in Japan to feature a 5 speed automatic transmission. All 2 litre turbo and non turbo versions with automatic transmssions were 4 speed.

R32 Models:

Also based on the Skyline platform were the A31 Cefiro and C33 Laurel. All 3 cars are very popular in Japan (and other countries to which they are imported secondhand) for drifting. In Japan, the CA18i engine in the GXi is sometimes swapped for an SR20DET (4 cylinder turbo), resulting in a lighter and better-balanced car than the factory six-cylinder turbo models.

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