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In the late ‘90s, Nissan brought a handful of automotive journalists into its California headquarters. The company was struggling, and it seemed as if the executives were looking for a magic solution. Frankly, it felt as if the company had gone insane.

The car writers were unanimous in saying that Nissan was making some wonderful, powerful, sweet-handling cars. However, we added, the American public was hopelessly infatuated with giant sport/utility vehicles and pickups, and Nissan and its Infiniti brand had arrived too late to that party.

The cynic in me wanted to say, “Check your water coolers. It appears as if they’re being spiked. And, if the coolers are clean, perhaps you should put everybody on Prozac or something.” 

The bottom line: The company lost its way and second-guessed itself almost to death.

Fast-forward to the present. At its gleaming new headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan showed the media an impressive lineup of cars. No trucks or SUVs were present for this event.

Today’s bad economy, the threat of rising gas prices, and looming fuel-economy rules have America’s love affair with big SUVs and pickups on the rocks. Meanwhile, over the past dozen years, Nissan has labored to once again produce an impressive lineup of value-packed, economical, roomy, sweet-handling cars. (Check out my reviews of the 2010 Sentra and 2010 Altima Sedan, and other Nissan models in our 2009 buyer's guide.)

It seems as if the comany’s “Nissanness” has returned at just the right time. Maybe Tennessee tap water is better for you.

By Mac Demere, autoMedia.com contributing editor

It's the week ending November 6, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather the highlights from each.

SEMA is not quite over, and many blogs are still highlighting the highly modified vehicles on display there. Leave it to Jalopnik  to highlight the highly modified booth babes, in their gallery of SEMA car girls. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

We caught the guys from Left Lane News in North Hall as they were leaving the Kia booth having just photographed the trio of customized Souls. Click to read more details on Kia's GoGear.com Safety Car, baby blue Antenna car, and Buck Wild Sinister car. Sadly, no Hamsters inside.

We think the new Chevy Camaro was the hands-down star of this year's SEMA Show, but if you want to see more vehicles from other manufacturers, you can check out this gallery of tuner cars from the folks at Motor Trend.

The Los Angeles Auto Show kicks off the new auto show season in just a few weeks, and we're already seeing the first of the press releases sharing bit about what we'll be seeing there. The Detroit Bureau  has a report on "Youthmobiles circa 2030" with a projection of vehiches from the design studios for Audi, GM, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota. Reaching 21 years into the future these interpretations envision what young drivers -- raised with cell phones, online communities and webcams  -- will want.

If you're a fan of anything Porsche, then you'll want to see the new lightweight Boxster Spyder when it is unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. If you can't wait a few more weeks to see it in person, then check out this video at AutoBlog. It's promised to be "agile, powerful, open and efficient" with a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds and combined 25.3 mpg. We're drooling already!

One of the main reasons automakers want to reduce weight is because it's a great way to increase MPG numbers. In this week's edition of Greenlings,  AutoblogGreen explains how reducing a vehicle's weight helps its efficiency.

Would you buy this car?  Well, according to TheCarGurus summary of Fiat's upcoming business plan for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep, you might be able to within a few years.

The Car Connection has some good news: According to early estimates of traffic fatalities for the first half of this year, overall fatalities are down about seven percent versus the same period last year. Apparently, even adjusting for the fact that people are driving a lot less, the fatality rate is showing a pronounced decline -- at a record-low 1.15 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), versus 1.23 in the first half of 2008.

The issue of how to stop a runaway Toyota, er, car, remains a hot topic, but Consumer Reports is the only outlet which has taken vehicles out onto a track to test braking strategies under unintended acceleration. Their most recent story includes video that shares emergency braking techniques and shows that pumping the brakes could be one of the worst methods. Again, the best advice is to put the car into Neutral. Make a note of it.

We found this photo of an artistic scene inscribed in the dirt on the back of a Peugeot at Automopedia,  and they found it at reddit.  In the interest of followng proper copyright etiquette, we'd like to credit the photographer, but can't find the necessary info. Whoever you are, thanks for sharing!

And with that fun little tidbit to make you go rent some Godzilla films, we thank you for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form  so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor

Suzuki is coming out swinging with its all-new Kizashi sedan, striking at the vital midsized sedan segment. Each Kizashi features all-wheel drive and is motivated by a strong 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180-185 horsepower, depending on transmission fitment. The Kizashi looks poised to compete on personality, feature equipment, and value, with prices starting at $19,000 and peaking at about $27,000, plus $735 in destination charges.

Even the base Kizashi S is well equipped with front, side, rear side, and side-curtain airbags; dual-zone climate control; nine-speaker audio system; push-button keyless start; power windows, doors, and mirrors; stability control; and ambient lighting.

Starting at $21,500, the Kizashi SE packs additional equipment, such as continuously variable transmission (CVT), 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, leather trim bits, and 17-inch aluminum wheels. Suzuki expects this will be the most popular version.

For those who want a more sporting character, the GTS starts at $22,500 and ranges to $25,000 with all the goodies. The GTS is available with a choice of six-speed manual transmission or performance-tuned CVT with steering wheel paddle shifters. It also boasts a 425-watt, 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system; moonroof, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone and audio streaming; and fog lights.  

The top SLS dresses the Kizashi in decidedly upscale trappings, with leather upholster, power passenger seat, heated front seats, auto dimming rear view mirror with Homelink garage door opener, heated outside mirrors, automatic rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, and rear proximity sensors. All this is available for less than $27,000.

Read our 2010 Suzuki Kizashi preview. Research Suzuki vehicles in the new car buyer's guide.

Today, Ford introduced an to provide rear passengers with airbag protection. The airbags are concealed within special shoulder belts. Once deployed, the disperse the force over a wider area than a conventional belt, thereby reducing injury risks. Ford points to the benefits for children and the elderly, two groups that commonly ride in the second-row and are especially vulnerable to injury.  (Read “The Dilemma of Older Drivers.”)

In the event of a crash, the airbag deploys in 40 milliseconds. This is notably slower than a traditional front airbag, since the device does not need to close a gap between the belt and the occupant. After all, it is already in contact with the passenger. As it expands, the rear seat belts spread crash forces over five times more area of the body than conventional seat belts; this helps reduce pressure on the chest and helps control head and neck.

The seat-belt airbag system will be first offered on the redesigned 2011 Ford Explorer, and it will be made available on other FoMoCo vehicles after that launch.

See the top-10 car safety systems. Learn more about car safety.

Having just spent some time in the Nissan 370Z, we were thinking about other great automotive performance icons and—voila—another great favorite appeared, the 2010 Mustang GT.

Freshened Styling

The 2010 Mustang isn’t entirely new, but it does have a fresh new look, and a big step up in interior quality, refinement and performance.

On the outside, a new front end features a shorter grille, a more prominent power bulge in the hood, and a slightly chopped rear tail. The look is still pure Mustang, just a little more up-to-date.

While making things fresh, we were pleased with one retro feature—the fun-to-watch sequential taillights. Our tester was a beautiful Harvest Gold and, along with handsome 19-inch alloy wheels, featured a new panoramic glass sunroof that not only lightened up the interior, but gave our pony car the looks of a show car.

Interior Mods

Inside, the serious upgrade includes a new seamless, soft-touch Thermaplastic Olefin skin that stretches across a one-piece instrument panel—much nicer than the previous hard plastic. New, round instruments are retro-handsome. Making our Mustang even nicer were options including a leather-wrapped steering wheel with aluminum spokes, aluminum trim throughout the cabin, and Ford’s Microsoft/Sync telematic audio system, featuring a jumbo eight-inch screen, voice-activated navigation and rear view camera. This was no bare-bones muscle car.

Driving Impression

The driving experience reinforced that GT stands for Grand Touring. We found our tester’s 5-speed automatic to be smooth and comfortable in the daily grind, but more than responsive when the urge to let loose hits. And when you do, the 315-hp engine moves you with real urgency, with that deep, rich, spine-tingling growl that only an American V8 can make.

Most impressive is the Mustang’s newfound chassis refinement. Stiffer rear springs and recalibrated shocks make for a vehicle that’s not only much more comfortable and controlled, but easier to drive quickly. The steering is also more precise, which easily adds to the driving fun.

It all adds up to the best Mustang yet: Plenty of power and performance for those who want it (and who doesn’t?) and real world livability for those who need it. And it’s all wrapped up in a handsome, masculine package that does the Mustang history proud.

Our loaded-to-the-gills tester came in at just over $39,000. With some judicious use of the options list, you should be able to design a GT that can fit just about any budget.

By Ben Lewis, Contributing Editor, autoMedia.com

Here are more Mustang stories and reviews plus new car shopping information:

2010 Ford Mustang Review

2010 Ford Mustangs @ SEMA

2010 Ford NASCAR Mustang

2009 Ford Mustang New Car Buyer's Guide Photo Gallery, Prices and Specs

With the massive Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), there are performance vehicles of all stripes, but only one has the distinctive Yenko stripes. As previewed in the autoMedia blog, General Marketing Capital Incorporated (GMCI) showed a 2010 Yenko Camaro Prototype based on a Camaro SS.

The Phase 1 Yenko boasts a supercharger to boost output to 600 horsepower, Tremec six-speed manual transmission, Hurst short-throw shifter, six-piston big brake package, and Magnaflow high-flow cat-back exhaust system.

The appearance is given the full Yenko treatment with the essential, distinctive strips, emblems, and retro-styled 22-inch aluminum wheels. The interior features Yenko Super Car (sYc) embroidered headrests, Yenko/SC sill plates, Yenko/SC embroidered floor mats, and more.

GMCI is exploring options for producing more Yenko project cars and product lines. It is also developing a Web site to support the business and nurture a Yenko community.

The name Yenko is legendary in muscle car circles, with classic Yenko Camaros demanding 10-times the price as a traditional factory car at major auctions. It was Don Yenko who was responsible for creating the Yenko Stinger Corvair, Yenko Camaro, Yenko Chevelle, and the Yenko Nova. Each namesake car boasted big horsepower, chassis upgrades, distinctive stripes, and telltale sYc logos. The dealership-tuner may be best known for fitting a massive 427-cubic-inch V-8s producing 425 horsepower into the Camaro. Through cooperating with General Motors, Yenko used Chevrolet's Central Office Production Order (COPO) system to have the big L-72 engines installed into Chevrolet Camaros, Chevelles, and Novas right at the factory.

Where GMCI takes the storied brand remains to be seen, but we hope it will bit a fitting, and exciting, ride.

Read our Chevrolet Camaro review. For another blast from the past, see the Lingenfelter Trans Am based on the new Camaro.

Toyota Motor Sales seems to have been too enthusiastic in its response to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report when it issued a press release Monday stating “No defect exists in vehicles with properly installed floor mats.”  Toyota had claimed that NHTSA had completed its investigation into unintended acceleration with certain models, finding that " ... the only defect trend related to vehicle speed control in the subject vehicles involved the potential for accelerator pedals to become trapped near the floor by out-of-position or inappropriate floor mat installations." (See our post “NHTSA Says No Defect In Recalled Toyota, Lexus Vehicles.”)

NHTSA has come out with a strong rebuke, calling the Toyota release “inaccurate and misleading.”

In its own statement, the government safety organization said:

“NHTSA has told Toyota and consumers that removing the recalled floor mats is the most immediate way to address the safety risk and avoid the possibility of the accelerator becoming stuck. But it is simply an interim measure. This remedy does not correct the underlying defect in the vehicles involving the potential for entrapment of the accelerator by floor mats, which is related to accelerator and floor pan design.”

With all the back and forth, it the real message for drivers can be lost. The issue regarding Lexus and Toyota models remains unresolved. NHTSA has committed to working with Toyota on a vehicle-based solution, and it will continue to investigate any possible defect trends. Toyota is working on corrective measures, such as offering to zip-tie mats now and explore potential mat redesigns for replacing under a recall.

Let this serve as a warning for all drivers about the risks of an ill-fitting floor mat, or on that is not secure. With the approach of winter, extra care should be taken in selecting and installing all-weather mats. And they should never be placed atop an existing mat.

The floor mat advisory involves: 2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry, 2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004 to 2009 Toyota Prius, 2005 to 2010 Toyota Tacoma, 2007 to 2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007 to Lexus ES350, and 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.

Owners who have further questions are directed to visit toyota.com/floormats or lexus.com/floormats.

See our previous report: "Toyota, Lexus Floor Mat Saga Continues with NHTSA Insights."

Ending months of negotiation and speculation, General Motors has halted the sale of its European Opel division. GM has cited improving business and the importance of Opel/Vauxhall to its global operations as the reasons for the reversal. GM today posted its October sales figures, showing the first gain in 21 months.

The news came hard on Magna International, which had been working with the German government, GM, and partners on acquiring Opel. Known as a major parts supplier, Magna is a large, diverse company that has grown to become a manufacturer-for-hire for several automakers, and this purchase would have been a natural expansion for its business.

“GM will soon present its restructuring plan to Germany and other governments and hopes for its favorable consideration,” said Fritz Henderson, president and CEO. “We understand the complexity and length of this issue has been draining for all involved. However, from the outset, our goal has been to secure the best long term solution for our customers, employee, suppliers, and dealers, which is reflected in the decision reached today. This was deemed to be the most stable and least costly approach for securing Opel/Vauxhall’s long-term future.”

GM expects restructuring Opel will cost about $4.5 billion. Given the contributions Opel has made to the American-market products, the investment may be well worth it. Test drive the Buick LaCrosse to see what we mean.

As this news shows, the auto crisis is winding down, and the industry is increasingly focused on building cars, rather than focused on survival against tough economic odds. The way it is supposed to be.

Respected tuning house Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) unveiled a back-to-the-future muscle car with its T/A concept at the 2009 SEMA show. Certain to turn heads, the reborn Trans Am applies classic Pontiac cues to a 2010 Camaro, then cranks up the volume with abundant performance upgrades. The result is a clear example of what could have been, where it not for the auto industry crisis.

Inspired by the 1969 original, the exterior makeover features a new front fascia with custom headlamps, grille, and turn signals. The car's fender has a functional side extractor scoop and the rear quarter has a leading edge wheel flair. The rear corners of the car have been extended nearly four inches and are finished with a wrapped down stand-up spoiler. Custom-created taillight housings complete the body work. The rolling stock is custom 20-inch honeycomb wheels wrapping in 275/40ZR20 front and 315/35ZR20 rear Nitto tires.

Inside, the cockpit is dressed with bright blue woven vinyl seat inserts and metal turned instrument panel accents.

As with any LPE project, there is serious underhood alchemy with the T/A concept. The engine is built around a custom Racing Head Service (RHS) aluminum block with an impressive, and Poncho perfect, 455 cubic-inch displacement. It features 4.155" bore Diamond 11.5:1 compression ratio pistons and a 4.200" stroke Lunati forged crankshaft. LPE-brand CNC ported-and-polished LS7 heads and an LSX FAST 102 intake finish off the engine. The result is a potent, SEMA-worthy 655 horsepower and 610 ft.-lbs. of torque.

With or without the Pontiac division, it is clear tuners could supply 21st-century Firebirds. The Trans Am Depot is looking to produce conversions inspired by the Bandit-era second-generation Firebirds. (See “Sneak Peek: 2010 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.”)  

For now, the LPE car is a concept, but as they say, with a strong enough market response, anything is possible.

When Global Vice President of General Motors Design Ed Welburn pulled the silk off the final vehicle in a special event with a small amount of journalists on the first night of SEMA, the guests were surprised to find none other than Jay Leno sitting behind the wheel.

The talk show host, comedian, and car enthusiast was on hand to reveal his special edition Camaro concept propelled by the 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 that is standard in Camaro LS and LT models. Making it especially high-powered is a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbochargers that blow through a custom air-to-air intercooler boosting output by 40 percent to about 425 horsepower.

Upgrades for the turbo system include a larger-capacity Be-Kool radiator and a custom exhaust system, as well as a Centerforce-supplied clutch and pressure plate for the six-speed manual transmission. Additional performance upgrades include a Brembo six-piston brake package, Pedders coil-over lowering kit, custom fog lamps and integral brake cooling vents, and an air extractor-style hood.

Leno's car is the most radical exterior styling of all the Camaro concepts revealed at SEMA tonight. The front fascia and hood, upper and lower grilles, and the ground effects package (including a rear diffuser) have been restyled for Jay's custom road racer.

Inside, Leno's concept Camaro has been retrimmed with jet black Katzkin leather with dark gray accent stitching, and features a sports black painted I/P and door trim panel inserts.

"Jay's Camaro offers style, performance and efficiency in a big way," says Brent Dewar, vice president, Global Chevrolet Brand. "It delivers the power of a Camaro SS on demand, but with the fuel economy of a V-6."

Rock on, Jay. We're so glad your car enthusiasm can help to envision such an awesome creation!

Read more about Chevrolet Camaro here at autoMedia.com

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

(Photos by Brandy Schaffels. Left to right: Jay Leno, Ed Welburn, and John Fitzpatrick, marketing manager for the Camaro.)

Toyota was strapped in the national hot-seat after a tragic accident in August involving a Lexus ES 350 was blamed on sudden, unintended acceleration. A floor mat from a Lexus RX 400h SUV was wrongly fitted to the sedan and suspected as being a key factor in that incident. Toyota Motor Sales has begun mailing letters to owners of certain Toyota and Lexus models regarding the potential for an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat to interfere with the accelerator pedal and cause it to get stuck in the wide-open position. (Read "Toyota, Lexus Recalling 3.8 Million Vehicles to Inspect Floor Mats.")

More significantly, Toyota reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has completed its investigation and found that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver's floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured. After conducting an extensive technical review of the issue, including interviews with consumers who had complained of unwanted acceleration, NHTSA concluded that " ... the only defect trend related to vehicle speed control in the subject vehicles involved the potential for accelerator pedals to become trapped near the floor by out-of-position or inappropriate floor mat installations."

This is the sixth time in the past six years that NHTSA has undertaken such an exhaustive review of allegations of unintended acceleration on Toyota and Lexus vehicles and the sixth time the agency has found no vehicle-based cause for the unwanted acceleration allegations.

"The question of unintended acceleration involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles has been repeatedly and thoroughly investigated by NHTSA, without any finding of defect other than the risk from an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat," said Bob Daly, TMS senior vice president.

In the recently completed investigation, NHTSA reported that:

"The vehicle was fully instrumented to monitor and acquire data relating to yaw rate, speed, acceleration, deceleration, brake pedal effort, brake line hydraulic pressure, brake pad temperature, engine vacuum, brake booster vacuum, throttle plate position, and accelerator pedal position. Multiple electrical signals were introduced into the electrical system to test the robustness of the electronics against single point failures due to electrical interference. The system proved to have multiple redundancies and showed no vulnerabilities to electrical signal activities.”

The floor mat advisory involves: 2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry, 2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004 to 2009 Toyota Prius, 2005 to 2010 Toyota Tacoma, 2007 to 2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007 to Lexus ES350, and 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.

Until Toyota develops a remedy, it is asking owners of affected Toyota and Lexus models to take out any removable driver's floor mat and NOT replace it with any other floor mat. If brought now to a local dealership, many are securing the mats with zip ties.

In theory, the risks related to unsecure floor mats can apply to any vehicle, especially those using thick all-weather mats. As winter fast approaches, it is especially important for motorists to ensure their mats are properly fitted. If not, order appropriate mats. Simple as that.

Owners who have further questions are directed to visit toyota.com/floormats or lexus.com/floormats.

See our previous report: "Toyota, Lexus Floor Mat Saga Continues with NHTSA Insights."

Sometimes you get lucky. And sometimes you get really lucky. We’ve been looking forward to testing the new Lexus IS C retractable hardtop convertible for a long time.

Aimed squarely at competitors such as the BMW 3 Series and Infiniti G37 retractable hardtops, the IS 250 C with a 204-hp V6 starts at $38,940, while the more powerful 306-hp IS 350 C starts at $44,390.

Either model gets you a sophisticated looking 2-door coupe that transforms into an even-better looking open vehicle in just 20 seconds with the touch of a button.

So about that lucky part — Well, we’d have been happy to test any IS C, but Lexus sweetened the deal with a very special IS 350 C, brimming with performance goodies from Lexus’ F-Sport catalog. And frankly, this transformed the car into the most exciting and well-balanced Lexus we have ever driven. Yes, even including the $58,000 416-hp, V8 IS F sedan.

At first glance, our tester was a jaw-dropper. In Obsidian black, with a black leather interior, it was sleek and sophisticated. Sitting on its lowered suspension with massive charcoal 19-inch forged wheels, it was the epitome of badness. 

The IS had the performance goods to back up the looks. A beautiful stainless steel dual exhaust system provided a rich, deep growl, heard all the better with the retractable hardtop down. The better breathing certainly gives it more power than the stock 306-hp engine. One thing is for sure: This beast is quick.

More impressive is the F-sport suspension. Not only did our IS have impressively quick responses and massive grip, thanks to those huge wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport tires, but the ride was superbly well controlled, yet comfortable — a rival for any European make. This is no small feat, as the Lexus IS F sedan offers impressive handling but, unfortunately, the suspension hammers you for the privilege.

Add up all the F-Sport goodies and you’re looking at $12,000 or so on top of the IS 350 C’s price tag. That places it competitively to the BMW 335i convertible, and that would be a tough choice. Certainly in the IS’ favor, with the F-Sport goodies, it would be a rarity on the road. Even better, buy a stock IS 350 C now and enjoy it for a few awhile. Then add the F-Sport bits later for even more fun.

By Ben Lewis, Contributing Editor, autoMedia.com

Other reviews: 2010 Lexus IS C Convertibles, 2008 Lexus IS F, 2009 Lexus IS Vehicle Guide, 2009 Lexus IS F Vehicle Guide.

Chevrolet has treated us virtually to a revised version of the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept that debuted at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. The original concept was also widely seen in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” – at least by the movie goers not distracted by Megan Fox. In that FX-laden film, the concept played a minor role as “Sideswipe” and was clearly more than meets the eye. (Learn about the production Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Edition.)

The original concept was developed as an internal design challenge to combine classic Corvette cues with high-tech features, modern materials, and a striking new appearance. Clearly, the mission was accomplished.

The concept features a clamshell hood, scissor-style doors, ergonomic seats, rear-view camera with night vision enhancement, and a high-performance hybrid drive.

How much this concept will influence the seventh-generation remains to be seen. Latest rumors about the C7 suggest the car will be smaller than the C6, benefitting performance and fuel economy.

We hope to see the revised concept on the show circuit this season.

See our Chicago auto show highlights, and read our Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport and Z06 reviews.

Hyundai flirted with the import performance crowd with the Tiburon, but the Korean-automaker is pink-slip serious about appealing to the aging “The Fast and Furious” crowd with its latest coupe. The new, rear-drive Genesis Coupe is a well-executed sporty car with impressive fit-and-finish and decidedly performance-driver bent. For those enthusiasts with a passion for customization and factory-besting performance, Hyundai is introducing the 210-horsepower Coupe 2.0T R-Spec at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show this week.

Consider this new edition as a blank slate for tuners. Priced at just $23,750, it gives enthusiasts an affordable head start on their wrench-turning adventures. The hardware is based on the Track model, with the track-tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, and Torsen limited-slip differential. It also adds a set of front strut camber adjustment bolts to further enhance initial turn-in and handling response. R-Spec comes only with a manual transmission.

While it has the performance goodies, the R-Spec eliminates “non-essential” features for both cost and, to a lesser degree, weight, including Bluetooth, automatic headlights, cruise control, trip computer, chrome interior accents, and steering wheel audio controls.

The R-Spec does retain air conditioning, keyless entry, six-speaker audio system, and power windows/locks/mirrors. Further, the safety systems carry over, including front, side, and side-curtain air bags, as well as active front head rests.

When all is said and done, the Genesis Coupe R-Spec is priced $3,000 less than the 2.0T Track model, leaving tuners with extra cash for their own choice of aftermarket performance upgrades. The R-Spec will be offered in three exteriors colors: Karussell White, Bathurst Black, and Tsukuba Red.

The R-Spec is en route to dealers now.

Read our Hyundai Genesis Coupe review, and research Hyundai in the new car buyer’s guide.

Friday, Dodge Motorsports revealed its Dodge Challenger entry for next year’s NASCAR Nationwide Series. The new car will make its track debut with the July 2nd Daytona race and appear next at Michigan on August 14th. In total, the Challenger will be campaigned at four races in 2010, then compete with the full schedule in 2011.

This Challenger is also part of an announcement that Dodge is expanding its partnership with Penske Racing. Next year, Penske will support two cars in the Nationwide Series and three teams in the Sprint Cup.

The Challenger isn’t the only muscle coupe to move to the big track. Ford is making a similar move with the Mustang. (Read “Unveiled: 2010 Ford NASCAR Mustang.”) General Motors will not make this a three-way competition by moving the Camaro to NASCAR.

Read our Dodge Challenger review for our take on the street version.

Expand your NASCAR knowledge with:

NASCAR - Common Terms and Phrases Defined
NASCAR Basics - Understanding NASCAR