R31

The R31 Skyline of 1986 was a natural evolution on the R30 shape. The design was slightly larger and squarer than previous Skylines. It was available as a Sedan, Hardtop sedan, Coupe and station wagon.

The R31 Skyline introduced many new technologies and features. The HR31 was the first Skyline to be equipped with the new RB-series of engines. The R31 RB engines are often referred to as "Red Top" engines because of the red cam covers. There were 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 butterfly system to divide the intake ports in half for better low RPM performance. Later versions used ECCS (Electronically Concentrated Control System) engine management, discarded the twelve tiny runners for six much larger ones (though they retained twelve ports on the head, so there was a splitter plate), and received a slightly larger turbocharger. Nissan's RD28, a 2.8 straight-6 engine, introduced Diesel-power to the line-up. 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.

The R31 Skyline was also produced in Australia, with a 3.0 L 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.

GTS-R

The ultimate version of the R31 was the RB20DET-R powered HR31 GTS-R Coupe (800 units built). It had a reworked version of the normal RB20DET with a much larger turbocharger on a stainless steel exhaust manifold, as well as a much larger front mounted intercooler boosting power to 210 ps (154 kW), with racing versions making 460 hp (343 kW) in Group A trim.

Models: 'Japan'

* 1800I - 1.8 L CA18(i) SOHC I4, 100 hp (75 kW)
* Passage GT-D - 2.8 L Diesel RD28 SOHC I6, 92 hp (68 kW, 173 N m)
* Passage GT - 2.0 L RB20DE DOHC I6, 155 hp (114 kW)
* Passage GT Turbo - 2.0 L RB20DET DOHC turbo I6, 180 hp (133 kW, 225 N m)
* GTS - 2.0 L RB20DE DOHC I6, 155 hp (114 kW)
* GTS Turbo - 2.0 L RB20DET DOHC I6, 180 hp (133 kW, 225 N m)
* GTS-X - 2.0 L RB20DET DOHC turbo I6, 190 hp (141 kW, 240 N m)
* GTS-R - 2.0 L RB20DET-R DOHC turbo I6, 210 hp (154 kW, 245 N m)
* GTS Autech - 2.0 L RB20DET-R DOHC turbo I6, 210 hp (154 kW, 245 N m)

'Australia'

* Pintara - 2.0 L CA20E I4, 102 hp (78 kW, 160 N m)
* GX, Executive, GXE, Silhouette, Ti - 3.0 L RB30E SOHC I6, 155 hp (114 kW, 247 N m)
* GTS1 - 3.0 L RB30E SOHC I6, 176 hp (130 kW, 255 N m)
* GTS2 - 3.0 L RB30E SOHC I6, 190 hp (140 kW, 270 N m)

'South Africa'

* 2.0GL, 2.0GLE - 2.0 L CA20S I4, 106 hp (78 kW, 163 N m)
* 2.0SGLi - 2.0 L RB20E SOHC I6, 115 hp (85 kW, 174 N m)
* 3.0SGLi - 3.0 L RB30E SOHC I6, 171 hp (126 kW, 260 N m)