This is the stuff dreams are made of. After months of speculation and prototype testing, Nissan has finally pulled the wraps off of the new GT-R Spec V, which is set to go on sale in Japan in the very near future. This street-legal race-ready GT-R features boosted engine dynamics, lightweight materials, and a stealth/bold appearance, sure to knock the socks off of many 911 owners.

Outside, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, brake ducts, and grille have been added, as well as carbon ceramic brakes set behind twenty-inch Nismo wheels. The carbon fiber carries over to the interior, as well, on the instrument panel, center storage compartment, and most of the interior trim, including the standard Recaro buckets. The GT-R's rear seats have been removed in order to conserve weight, as well.

As for power, no substantial upgrades have been done to the GT-R's twin-turbo V-6, but a new high gear boost controller delivers more torque in mid- and high-range revs. A reworked suspension is put in place to improve handling dynamics, and a titanium-coated exhaust rounds out the whole package.

There's still no word if the top-shelf GT-R will make its way across the pond to America, but consider us on the edge of our seats. Click through the post to read Nissan's full press release.

What is green, has eight wheels, two wings, doesn’t fly, and apparently is difficult to make up a joke about? That’s right, the Eliica, an electric car prototype developed by Japan’s Keio University.

The Eliica’s most notable quality is its eight wheels, each with its own electric motor and energy-regenerative disc brake system, which produce a total of 640 horsepower and a top speed of 230 miles per hour. The front four wheels steer the car, which also has two rear gullwing doors. Instead of a flux capacitor, the Eliica is powered by 80 lithium-ion batteries which can be easily charged from a residential power grid in about ten hours.

Although the future is unclear for this futuristic car, we hope to see more of this green machine as it attempts to challenge gasoline-powered speed records.

View more pictures of the Eliica in the gallery above.

+ Eliica

Bentley announced today that it will debut its Continental GTC Speed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

This more powerful version of Bentley's top-selling convertible features a 600-horsepower, twin-turbocharged W-12, the manufacturer's most powerful engine to date. The GTC Speed also provides 553 pound-feet of torque, a top speed of 200 miles per hour (195 with the top down), and will do 0-60 in 4.5 seconds.

Though still touted as a luxury vehicle, this performance-inspired Bentley sports a lower suspension, optional giant carbon-ceramic brakes, a discrete rear spoiler, and a highlighted lower air intake. According to Brian Gush of Bentley, the newest Speed model, inspired by its Speed Model of the 1920s, "is a driver's car which will redefine people's expectations of what a luxury convertible can achieve."

Check out the GTC Speed in our gallery above or scroll down below to read the official press release.

http://www.carzi.com/2008/12/26/marussia-pictures-russian-supercar/

With the current economic state of the world, it's not news that many automakers are showing profit losses this year. The Detroit Three made headlines for their near-fatal financial issues, and best-selling automakers like Toyota are showing profit numbers in the red this year.

Lamborghini, however, posted record sales and profits for the fourth straight year, even though their largest-volume dealership closed down just recently. Looking ahead, the automaker has no plans to cut any funding for research and development and plans to expand their presence in the global marketplace.

Click through the post to read Lamborghini's official press release for all of the details.

Mercedes-Benz will be showing its special edition SLR Stirling Moss next month at the Detroit Auto Show -- sort of a last hurrah for the Mercedes/McLaren partnership. Powered by a supercharged V-8 engine, the SLR will be good for 650 horsepower and able to sprint from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 217 mph.

The design of the SLR Stirling Moss was inspired by the original 1950 300 SLR, and the current car has an extremely striking resemblance to the classic car. The open-top speedster design is indeed unique, yet functional -- the integrated air scoops also serve as roll bars.

Only 75 examples of the SLR Stirling Moss will be built, retailing at €750,000 each. (That's just over $1 million in USD.) We'll give you the full details from the Cobo Hall floor next month.

+ World Car Fans: Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss

This is indeed an interesting take on the Chevrolet C6 Corvette. Innotech, a group from the Czech Republic, has modified the all-American 'Vette by infusing some Euro-inspired design. Namely, the side air vents mimic that of the Porsche Cayman, the lower grille is reminiscent of things we've seen on Aston Martin cars, and the rear flying buttress design is just like the one on the Ferrari 599 GTB -- sort of.

Power is sourced from the Corvette's 6.0-liter LS2 or 6.2-liter LS3, with output figures ranging from 500 to 560 horsepower (if naturally aspirated), or 600 to 1000 horsepower if the engine is supercharged or twin-turbocharged. These engines are mated to the Corvette's six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, and custom exhaust systems modify not only the appearance, but make quite a fierce exhaust note.

While the styling may be questionable, there's no doubt that Innotech's Corvette would be a hoot to drive. For the full details, click through the post to read Innotech's press release.

Nikolai Fomenko, a noted Russian celebrity and racecar driver, has just launched his own sports car company called EMM.

The company's first project will be the rather stunning Marussia sports car, which features an environmentally friendly hybrid drivetrain. On top of that, Fomenko hopes that the company will produce a completely electric car, possibly something similar to the Tesla, later on. For now though, hybrid technology is a lot more viable.

Russian media is reporting that the car will have a 3.5-liter Nissan engine, possibly from the existing 350Z, churning out around 240 horsepower on the entry model, and 298 hp on the premium version. Though this power output may not seem very supercaresque, the car will also use its electric motor at the back to boost its power. Adding in a feather-light curb weight of about 2000 pounds means that the car should be able to hit 60 miles per hour in around 5 seconds.

Apart from its drivetrain, other details on the Marussia are scarce. There are details on the interior however, as the car will have a 4G Yota network, which uses WiMax technology and will be able to wirelessly transfer 10mbps of data to ensure high-speed internet access. The Marussia will also feature three LCD screens in the car, a Bluetooth telephone system, and three cameras. One of these cameras will monitor the car in a “black box” manner for insurance companies.

+ Motor Authority: Marussia sports car born out of Russia

http://www.carzi.com/2008/12/18/mall-of-emirates-exotic-car-spotting/

Zenvo Automotive, a Danish firm, has created their introduction into the supercar segment -- the ST1. Powered by a twin-charged (turbocharged and supercharged) V-8 engine, the ST11 produces 1104 horsepower and a whopping 1056 pound-feet of torque. 0-62 miles per hour happens in just three seconds, as well. Take that, Bugatti Veyron!

The Zenvo ST1 comes in a rear-drive layout and the only transmission offered is a six-speed manual. All 1104 horsepower is put to the ground via a set of nineteen-inch wheels with 255/35 Michelin tires in the front, while a set of twenties on 335/30R rubber round out the rear. Surprisingly, though, this car isn't very large -- 183.6 inches long, 80.4 inches wide, and 46.8 inches tall. On top of that, the ST1's carbon fiber body panels keep the weight to just over 3020 pounds. Inside, refinement is key, with keyless entry, satellite navigation, and a power-adjustable steering wheel and seats are standard.

No pricing information has been released as of this moment, though we're not sure if the car will even make it onto American soil. In any case, Zenvo plans to only produce fifteen of the ST1 supercars with the first ones to be built starting next year.

+ Motor Authority: Danish firm Zenvo Automotive unveils 1100hp ST1 supercar