Earlier this year we saw the introduction of the limited-production GT-R SpecV model, a stripped down version of the already extreme Japanese supercar designed for hardcore club racers and performance nuts. As previous GT-R generations have shown, however, Nissan was never going to rest with just one special edition of its halo model. New info revealed today gives us even more info on the luxury-oriented SpecM.

Spied recently testing at the Nurburgring, the SpecM will retain the same core performance package of the GT-R, but with a host of upgraded features--high-end audio, upgraded interior materials and a generally 'bespoke' feel. The only visible changes are likely to be a set of new bumpers, both front and rear. If you look closely at the spy shots, you will notice small vents positioned in the rear bumper near the exhaust tips.

While the SpecV is focused on reducing weight, the SpecM will be focused on increasing comfort. Expect to see a revised suspension package, slightly more biased to a civil city ride, in addition to the upgraded interior with new trim options and colors, as well as unique seats and special items. The SpecM will be all about customization and as such almost every car will be different--something similar to Ferrari’s One-to-One and Lamborghini’s Ad Personam customization programs.

As for the SpecM, the mechanical package should remain unchanged to the standard GT-R’s, which means we can expect an output of 485 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque.

The biggest difference, however, between the standard GT-R and new SpecM will be the price. According to a new report, the SpecM will be more expensive than the SpecV, which is already double the price of the standard GT-R in Japan. Expect a pricetag around the ¥18,000,000 mark (approximately $ 201,691)--exotic supercar territory. More details should be forthcoming closer to the car’s expected launch early next year.

These are our favorite kinds of car videos. Take a few super hot, fire-breathing, track-ready road cars and pit them against one another on a race track and see who wins. Autocar magazine's Steve Sutcliffe assembled the Nissan GT-R, the Porsche 911 Turbo and the Audi R8 V10 at the UK's Castle Combe circuit to see which of the entry level supercars could turn in the fastest lap.

The GT-R is the low-cost track star of the bunch, with the most mass, the least power and, arguably the most grip of the group. The 911 Turbo is the featherweight of the entry supercar trio, with middle-of-the-pack power and an (apparently) adventurous ride. The R8 V10 has the most power and Audi's excellent Quattro all-wheel drive system.

Sutcliffe took all through road warriors through the paces at Castle Combe, and the dynamic trio finished within about one second of each other. One of them could have won if it weren't for some iffy brakes, another didn't quite have the grip to win the day while the winner was quickest in and out of turns. Who won? You'll have to hit the jump and watch the high-res footage to find out.

TOKYO — Rumors lately buzzing around Japan suggest that the next-generation Nissan GT-R will come with a hybrid option.

Earlier reports suggested that Nissan was working on a high-performance SUV using the GT-R drivetrain. This car, which would wear an Infiniti badge in the States, would be Nissan's answer to the Porsche Cayenne (which is Porsche's best-selling model), the BMW X5 and X6. Another rumor hinted at a four-door GT-R-powered sedan badged as an Infiniti that would go head to head against the BMW M5 and Porsche Panamera. As far as we know, both of those projects have been shelved in favor of the GT-R hybrid.

Upon closer inspection, the hybrid option is the most feasible of all the rumors pertaining to the future of the GT-R. That Nissan showcased a high-performance hybrid in the Infiniti Essence is a fact (the Essence was built atop the GT-R platform), and with reports of Porsche also toying with the idea of a hybrid-powered 911, it would be natural for Mizuno and Nissan to entertain thoughts about a hybrid option. Digging deeper, we're told that the possible candidate for the powertrain is the HV system used in the hybrid Infiniti M to be released next year, but with a dramatic power increase.

The Essence showcar's hybrid system consisted of the G37's 3.7-liter V6, whose output was raised to 440 horsepower with the help of twin turbochargers. This was combined with a 160-hp electric motor, bringing the grand total to 600 hp. For the GT-R, Nissan would go with the 3.8-liter twin turbocharged V6 (VR38DETT) with the same electric motor used for the Essence. The target output would also be 600 hp (440 hp from the gasoline engine and 160 from the electric motor). That means the hybrid GT-R would boast more than 100 hp more than the current GT-R, while fuel economy would improve to roughly 25-30 mpg. And because it's a GT-R, we're also told that all-wheel drive will still be part of the package.

To counter the weight of the hybrid system as much as possible, Mizuno and company are expected to put the next-generation GT-R on a diet, but the curb weight is still expected to rise once the battery pack and electric motor are added.

Still, we're told performance will increase over the current-generation GT-R (R35). Nissan's goal for the hybrid GT-R is for it to be just as quick as the current car — despite that curb weight increase — while boasting much better fuel economy.

It's no secret that Nissan targeted the performance of the Porsche 911 Turbo when it developed the GT-R. A quick look at the car's specifications will reveal just how similar the cars are, from their twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engines' output, all-wheel-drive layout and of course, lap times around the Nürburgring. GT-R Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Product Specialist Kazutoshi Mizuno even went as far as saying he intends the "GT-R to maintain a life cycle of six to seven years as it evolves gradually during those years, similar to how Porsche cars evolve."

But that was back when the GT-R was introduced in 2007. Today, the economic climate is far different than before, and now comes word that Mizuno-san may be changing his thinking about the future direction of the next-generation GT-R.

We expect the Hybrid GT-R's price tag to be around $100,000 with an expected debut of 2012 as a 2013 model.

Inside Line says: If Nissan pulls it off, the GT-R Hybrid is poised to be the ideal supercar for the green era.