Amid all the talk on Nissan’s Porsche-baiting GT-R hitting pavements this year, Nissan’s racing arm NISMO quietly revealed the racetrack model. It’s the GT-R NISMO’s readying to compete in the racing series formerly known as JGTC; that is, Japan’s “Super GT Championship” series, in the top GT500 class. And by reveal, we mean there’s nary a stitch of spec information forthcoming. For that, they say, we’ll have to wait until February 2008. The GT-R replaces the Fairlady Z (350Z) in competition, which had replaced the Skyline GTR. We’re assuming the racing GT-R will have the maximum allowable 500 horsepower, though rumors of an even more sprightly street GT-R continue to fly.

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As we get ready for next week’s LA Auto Show, we’re working on cleaning our SEMA and Tokyo Motor Show pictures off our camera. The first ones from Tokyo we need to get rid of — for fear we’ll break our shiny black DSLR due to accidentally dropping it while retching — are our newest shots of the Orochi, a mid-engined “super car” from the folks at Mitsuoka. While it’s certainly exotic-looking (and by exotic, we mean “fugly”) Mitsuoka’s contention of “super car” status is probably more wishful thinking than reality, as the Orochi’s powered by a 3MZ-FE V6 mated to a five-speed auto tranny. If it sounds familiar, it should — it’s the same six-cylinder found in Toyota’s 5th gen Camry, Solara and Highlander. The Orochi weighs just under 3,500 lbs, so that not-so-huge powerplant gives Mitsuoka’s “new hotness” a mere 230 HP — about 10 horses less than a 2000 Dodge Intrepid R/T. It’s hard to call something a “super car” when it’s got less horses under the hood than an LH-platformed Mopar. Still, if you drive one of these limited-edition $91,000 cars, you’ll certainly be noticed. Of course, you’ll probably be laughed at too.

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Somewhere at the Los Angeles auto show, while the world’s automakers are splaying their latest show ponies under million-dollar lighting kits, a revival of sorts is quietly taking place. Car freaks of a certain age remember the trials and triumphs of Vector as they might the rise and fall of a forgotten Hollywood starlet. Once America’s answer to the Lamborghini Countach, the Vector began life as a design study at the 1971 LA show, and blossomed after some fits and starts into a full-blown, if somewhat creaky, supercar by the 1990s. That car was the W12, powered by a V12 from the Lamborghini Diablo. Later on, founder and chief designer Gerald Wiegert lost control of the company to Lamborghini’s then parent, and after some sputtering, the venture folded. Now, having regained the Vector assets, Wiegert’s making good on recent threats to revive the marque with a new supercar. It’s the Vector Avtech WX8, a prototype of which he showed off at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2006. Long story short, he’s showing it at the LA show this week. Though the promises are familiar — a 750hp V8 and top speed of 260-270 mph (in Bonneville gearing, natch) — so is the boundless optimism.

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It’s a track car! No, it’s street legal! Wait, it’s both — it’s the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR and it’ll be making its debut in just under a week at the LA Auto Show. We were going to wait until midnight tonight to show off the lighter Viper package — a package not seen for the Viper since 1999. Seriously, we were going to hold off on showing off the details on the 600 horses and 560 lb-ft of torque coming from the gigantic 8.4-liter V10 engine in this purpose-built, street-legal track car. But — we figured since AutoWeek can’t seem to keep their snake in their pockets, why should we? This new edition of the already quite deadly potent serpentine super car features added aerodynamic enhancements, an enhanced racing suspension and weight savings from the “base model” ‘08 Viper. In addition to the 40 lbs in weight savings you’ll see with the base level ACR package, you’ll also have the option of a “hard core” audio delete option that will drop the audio system, underhood silencer pad, trunk carpet and tire inflator. With this package, the radio is replaced by a lightweight cover that can be configured to mount an included lap timer and the door speakers are replaced by lightweight carbon-fiber panels. The “hard core” package drops the weight by another 40 lbs. Oh wait, and did we mention it comes in new colors? Like Viper Red, Viper Black, Viper Violet, Viper Bright Blue Metallic, and Viper Very Orange. We hear the next edition will come in Viper Puce Green. Full press release with all the gory details below the jump.

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So that’s how they do it. Apparently, someone looking in on a Hyundai marketing presentation snapped some shots of the new, Tiburon-replacing Genesis Coupe Concept ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles show later this month. As we were made aware at the SEMA show last week, the prototype is built on the company’s new rear-drive platform that will host the Genesis sedan. It’ll get a 300-horsepower version of the company’s 3.8-liter V6, which likely reflects the range topper among production models, which will be introduced at the New York auto show in 2008. As shown in these images, posted on New Tiburon Forums, the company’s marketing minions are comparing it to Ford’s Mustang, Honda’s Civic Coupe and Mitsubishi’s Eclipse. Now all it needs is that 350+hp V8 promised for the sedan and Hyundai’s in the car business. [New Tiburon Forums via Motor Authority]

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[Update: Full first drive road test here] Honda’s hydrogen powered family sedan has a new name — Clarity. Following a decades old corporate mandate, “Blue Skies For Our Children,” the mid-size Clarity will (supposedly) return an EPA-certified 68 MPG. The Clarity also will pass federal safety standards, start in minus 22 degree weather and survive trips out to Las Vegas (high heat). Refueling is still a pain as you either need a getting-smaller-but-still-bulky natural gas fired home unit, or live near Santa Monica, Torrance or Irvine. For now. However, the per-tank range is 270 miles. Coming to a Honda dealer near you this summer (2008), Honda will happy to lease you a Clarity for $600 a month. Make the jump to read Honda’s press release.

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Supercharged? Check. Intercooled? Big time. 19″ Wheels and beefier brakes? You know it. Diffuser? Apparently. Hood scoop? Yeah. Roof scoop? Hell yeah. Why, it’s the new Toyota Matrix Rally Sport. Get ‘em while they’re hot! Make the jump to read the press release.

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Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn just revealed the US-Spec version of Godzilla — the all-new Nissan GT-R here at the LA Auto Show. Ghosn claims that “this car could only be built with both our heads and our hearts.” Apparently he forgot to add they needed their balls as the speedy super car’s supposedly rated at 480 horses under the hood from the 3.8-liter twin turboed V6 engine. Also, Brian Lam says the seats are made for skinny Asian kids like him. He also says I’m a fit Midwestern boy and should leave any vehicle reviews of Godzirra to him and his Gizmodo nerdry. What say you fair Jalopnik readers?

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When I stop and reflect about why I spend more time thinking about cars than I do, well, anything, one of the defining, transcendental moments has to be when I was around 12-years-old with my father at the LA Auto Show. In one hall they had the “other” makes including the Lamborghini LM002 and my absolute favorite, the Vector W2. And they were next to each other. And I was 12. And nothing in the entire world could have been any better. In any way. Well friends, fast forward two decades and here I am covering the 2007 LA Auto Show. While Lamborghini refuses to man up and give us a Murcielago-engined SUV, motherlovin’ Vector is back with their WX-8. The life cycle completed, there is nothing more for me to do. Well… actually, there are a few people I’d like to punch in the mouth and I few women I’d to like to snuggle with, but I mean new Vector? Are we serious? Jump to read some glorious verbiage that had the Postfather in stitches.

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Man. 291 horsepower. 300 ft-lb of torque. Super all-wheel this, mega computer controlled that. Hardcore, shark-faced and we’ve known all about it for a while now. But here’s what made us sit up cocker spaniel straight: While the top o’ the range EVO MR comes with the flappy paddle DSG (TC-SST in Mitsubishi speak), the “lesser” GSR version has a standard 5-speed. And even though the premier video explained that the TC-SST in full auto mode, “Shifts as if wired directly to the driver’s brain,” we’ll maintain that our right arm shifts in much the same manner. Actually, our left foot works like that, too.

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