After nearly a year of speculation and spy shots, it's official: the Nissan GT-R SpecV has arrived. The limited edition GT-R is a subtle evolution of the super coupe that's set the world on fire after its introduction last year, and Nissan claims that it offers race car-levels of performance in a street-legal vehicle.

The body mods consist of a carbon fiber rear spoiler, grille and brake ducts, along with an exclusive Ultimate Black Opal paint job. On the inside, a set of carbon fiber Recaro buckets are fitted up front, while the rear seats have been nixed to save a few pounds. Carbon fiber also adorns the center storage box, instrument panel and replaces the majority of the interior trim.

The only substantive engine modification is a new high gear boost controller that increases the amount of compressed oxygen entering the twin-turbo'd 3.8-liter V6 to deliver more torque in mid- to high-range revs. A titanium-coated exhaust and a reworked suspension is fitted underneath, and carbon ceramic brakes hide behind 20-inch NISMO wheels that conspire to reduce unsprung mass and improve braking performance.

Sales begin in Japan at seven pre-selected dealers, with pricing set at 15,750,000 yen. There's no word on whether the GT-R SpecV will make the trek across the Pacific, but we're not holding our breath just yet.

Can you say Lame? Such a huge price jump but sounds like a ton of stuff a normal buyer could EASILY do with way less money. And I think Motor Authority did a proper price translation of $164,633.59 USD, that's f'n unbelievable! That's for special paint, exhuast, some CF body kit, new wheels, rotors, and retune ECU... all for $90K over a regular GTR and this one doesn't even have rear seats... f that give me another GT-R so I can have a buddy of mine race with me, lol.

Everyone knows the new 2010 Camaro SS will be a mean monster. According to Edmunds the SS model’s 6.2L V8 will be pumping out 422hp/408tq, that’s almost as much power you get in a Corvette. But that’s not what I’m getting excited about. GM for the first time is making an affordable V6 powered coupe that isn’t a shame to own. I’m sure all have already heard that the base V6 Camaro will be equipped with a 3.6L Direct Injection V6 making a tad over 300hp and 270tq, that’s straight on par with Toyota’s 3.5L 2GR-FSE which also a Direct Injection V6. Although to obtaine Toyota’s 300hp V6 you’ll have to drop $35K on up for an IS350.

I don’t think people will be looking at both a G37 and a base model Camaro, but just for comparison sakes it’s interesting to see that the G37 is more powerful and light, but not by much. The G37 has 30hp on the Camaro while the Camaro has a mere 3tq above the G37; the G37 is also lighter by about 147lbs. Of course you get much more luxury quality as well has a very rev happy engine probably better ride/handling quality. However as we can see with the IRS that the Camaro shares with the G8 it’s no slouch and for $12K less I think many buyers would be happy.

The new Camaro may not have the class of a Cadillac, but the 3.6L engine it has is shared with Cadillac, which is a good thing for many who been asking what are the modding potentials of this direct injection engine? Luckily there have been dyno graphs posted of a slightly modded CTS with just exhaust added and then with both exhaust and intake modifications. D3 Research and Design have done the dyno testing and shown how much power can be obtained from swapping out the intake and exhaust. Here are their results.

This is from adding the Corsa exhaust. This increased power to 281hp and 255tq.

And the result of adding a simple intake kit that further raised the power to 294hp and 261tq


If we say there is a 10~15% drive train loss between the motor and the wheel that means with these two bolt on mods it would raise the power at the crank to 338~350hp, which is pretty impressive for a 3.6L V6. To put some things in perspective the last Camaro Z28 with the legendary LS1 was producing 310hp from the factory and the current V6 Mustang which is the Camaro's direct competitor makes a measly 210hp as well as the V8 Mustang makes 300hp/320tq. Although the Mustang is considerably lighter than the Camaro this is a very interesting go about this time around. In the past the Camaro was always the more powerful and heavier of the two, but this is seriously the first time that the V6 model will blow out the Mustang V6 and at a very similar price range.

Good luck to GM as we all know they've been hyping up this car for quite some time and they need this to be a win.

The Korean car market is best compared to the early days of Saturn. It's a huge contrast with the past as more people are much more willing to visit a Korean dealership while before Korean cars would conjure up the mental projection of a Yugo that made it to the 90’s. However, new interesting models, much better warrenty coverage, and overall image change is making way for a new brand.

2009 & 2010 will be the years we see a great change in the Korean brands. Not only because of the Genesis cars, but because of the new direction we'll be seeing from Kia and Hyundai. Will the global

The fact that there is even any comparison between a Lexus and a Hyundai speaks for itself.