The R31 was the preclude to the GTR HCR32 we all know and love, the body styling changed from a small rounded vehicle into a bigger and boxier beast. The new generation boasted leaps and strides over its predeccessor, from its new RB series engine to the famed HICAS suspension. This car was meant for one thing, driving. The RB series engine was a corner stone in nissans racing series and was drastically different from its previous L series engines. with the changing of the Intake runners from 12 smaller ones to a larger 6 design, in later years. To the addition of an engine control system dubbed NCIS and ECCS, which controlled air flow and runner characteristics. All these little additions were a great engine selling point but we all know what we care about… the boost. the addition of a subsiquently larger turbo with perhaps an extra PSI or two here and there couldn’t hurt right? 215 horsepower doesn’t hurt when you’re racing around the local mountain passes or the race track. The combination of all these elements together provided the driver with a sense of victory no matter where he went and what he raced.
HICAS – for those who don’t know the history of HICAS we’ll do a quick review and run down. HICAS in its most basic form is a four wheel steering system. Under certain circumstances the HICAS will either react by turning the wheels in the same direction for quicker cornering and manuevering or a tighter turning radias and lightning quick reflexes in an opposite direction corner. HICAS was revolutionary addition to the automotive world and was sold on as many as 5 of the nissan models for the following years, it was a great success and an even great technological advance.
