page_title: Nissan Cefiro
section_title: A31 (1988)
hierarchical_section_title: Nissan Cefiro / A31 (1988)
caption_attribution_description: Rear quarter view of a first generation Nissan Cefiro, in Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
context_page_description: The Nissan Cefiro is a mid-size car that was produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan Motors. Introduced to Japan in 1988 as the A31 series four-door sedan, and exclusive to Japanese Nissan dealerships called Nissan Satio Store, the Cefiro initially shared its basic rear-wheel drive chassis with the Nissan Laurel, Nissan Leopard, and the Nissan Skyline. After production of the A31 stopped, the Cefiro dropped its sporting pretensions and essentially saw the standalone Cefiro model deleted from the lineup. This came with the introduction of the A32 and A33 Maxima, which took on the Cefiro nameplace in the Japanese domestic market although it bore no mechanical relation to the A31. The A32 and A33 closely follow the lineage of the J30 Maxima which was produced at the same time as the A31 Cefiro. The second generation and third generation Cefiro saw the switching to the front-wheel drive layout with a V6 engine. In Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand and Australia, the A32 and A33 series models were sold new as the Nissan Maxima. It is also badge engineered as the Renault Samsung SM5.
context_section_description: Nissan released the A31 series Cefiro sedan to Japan in September 1988. It shared its transmission, engine and rear suspension setup with the R32 Skyline, F31 Leopard, and C33 Laurel with the exception of the diesel engine which was available only in the Laurel. The chassis platform and front suspension (strut type) was shared with the Laurel with the one exception of the 4WD Cefiro, which used the Skyline GTS4 front suspension (multiple link type) and front drive train. The chassis was shared with the Laurel only, as it had a slightly longer wheelbase than the Skyline chassis. It was also one of the first Japanese production vehicles to be equipped with a 5 speed automatic transmission, which was available in the 2.5L non turbo.
  The Cefiro was introduced as a result of cross-town rival Toyota expanding its Mark II platform with the Toyota Cresta and Toyota Chaser triplets, with Nissan offering the Cefiro as a comparable fourth alternative to the Skyline and Laurel models, selling each vehicle at a separate Nissan dealership (Nissan Prince for the Skyline, Nissan Motor for the Laurel, Nissan Bluebird for the Leopard, and Nissan Satio for the Cefiro). The model code "A31" was chosen as the number combination "A30" was previously used by the 1967–1971 Nissan Gloria soon after Nissan had merged with the Prince Motor Company. The Cefiro took the top-level position at Nissan Satio as its exterior dimensions were exactly the same as the luxury sedans Nissan Cedric (exclusive to Nissan Bluebird) and the Nissan Gloria (exclusive to Nissan Prince) locations.
  Brand new, the Cefiro was slightly more expensive than the equivalent Nissan Skyline and had many modern features available for the first time. They included projector beam headlights, automatic tinting rear vision cabin mirror, electrically adjustable seats, automatic headlights, steering wheel mounted radio controls, HICAS four-wheel steering, electronically adjustable (damper) suspension and Nissans proprietary 4WD system, ATTESA E-TS. Due to its luxurious content of equipment and features installed, it helped to justify the moderately high annual road tax bill to Japanese buyers, although the exterior dimensions and engine displacement (on models equipped with 2.0L engines) remained within "compact" class size regulations to keep demand high.
  Nissan took the unusual step of making a left-hand drive version of the Cefiro A31, sold in Latin America, Turkey and other Eurasian countries as a Nissan Laurel Altima – in most export markets this slot was filled by the Nissan Maxima. Unlike the Japanese versions, export models are fitted with a carburetted single cam CA20S inline-four producing 102 hp (76 kW) and RB24 engine which was a single-cam 2.4-liter RB inline-six producing 141 hp (105 kW). Left hand drive Laurel Altimas were the flagship vehicle of Nissan's Turkish lineup for the early 1990s.
  From 1990, the A31 was facelifted and given a softer look with revised tail lights, center console, grill and cabin fabrics. Also available from 1990 was the line up of "SE" models, these featured yet another revised tail light, silver grill, revised bumpers, center console and updated interior.
caption: Nissan Cefiro A31, Malaysia
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