The Danish tuners at Kleemann have already shown us how they’ve reinterpreted the Mercedes-Benz SLK in the form of the Kleemann GTK. And while the pseudo-exotic’s tuned SLK 55 AMG engine (540 hp and 516 lb.-ft.), eight-piston brakes and carbon fiber panels do their best to up the performance quotient, the restyled sheet metal lost the concept a few cool points.

Now, Christian Brandt, the designer behind the GTK, has released images of the D-SCK Concept that takes several of the cues shown on their first bespoke concept and ported them over to create a more sleek, mid-engine ride. There’s no word on what will be powering the imaginary supercar, but with Kleemann’s ties to M-B, something with eight cylinders and forced induction isn’t out of the question. However, there’s a fair amount of doubt that the D-SCK will ever see the light of day.

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The Nissan GT-R has already proven it can more than hold its own against competition like the Porsche 911 Turbo and Chevy Corvette Z06, but don’t forget that Nissan still plans on revealing a victory specification, i.e. V-Spec, model of the car. Spy photogs from KGP Photography recently caught what they believe is the GT-R V-Spec being unloaded from a transport truck at the Nurburgring in Germany for testing. While the car doesn’t outwardly appear as different from the base GT-R as we expected, some differences are noticeable including more air intakes in the revised front splitter, new wheels and a different brake package (carbon ceramic perhaps?), and what could be a carbon fiber rear spoiler. Reports suggest that whole body panels on the Spec-V model will be comprised of carbon fiber, which should, among other things, help reduce the car’s portly weight by at least a few hundred pounds. While the spy shooters didn’t get to hear the engine fire up, rumor has it that the GT-R V-Spec will be more powerful than the base model, an achievement that shouldn’t be hard to accomplish considering dyno results suggest that the twin-turbo 3.8L V6 is already making more than Nissan’s official claim of 473 horsepower. We’re also not sure on what Nissan’s export plans are for the GT-R V-Spec, though it will be sold in limited quantities to some lucky Japanese for sure.

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Lexus Australia’s chief executive, John Roca, gave up a number of product details to The Australian in an interview this past weekend, including the addition of an “F” variant of the GS sedan and possibly a full-size LS limo. Both models are aimed to attack luxury stalwarts Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz by offering a number of high-performance variants and also developing a new model that would slot in below the IS sedan to take on the BMW 1-series and the Audi A3. That model is still a few years away, but it will be an integral part of Lexus’ commitment to reach one million global sales in the next two to three years.

The other element includes offering hybrid versions of every vehicle it sells, plus the introduction of a hybrid-only model that will be unveiled in concept form this January at the Detroit Auto Show. Toyota’s luxury arm plans to release a redesigned five-seater RX next year, based off the LF-Xh concept that bowed in Tokyo, although there’s no word on the rumored seven-seat variant due out before the end of the decade.

Naturally, no conversation about Lexus would be complete without some mention of a two-door, coupe/convertible version of the IS, a model that’s been sorely lacking from the Lexus lineup, plus, the LF-A supercar, which should finally come to market in 2011, but may only be available in left-hand drive.

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Built entirely out of LEGO pieces by someone who goes by the handle “Crowkillers”, these scale models of that last remaining pony car to reenter the market are really amazing. It’s not easy to recreate the lines of a modern day muscle car using only square blocks, so it appears that Crowkillers dipped into his bin of Technic pieces allowing for a little more complexity than ye olde traditional LEGOs. We’re not entirely positive, but it appears each car is able to move under its own power, as well. They even feature fleshed out interiors and a mock V8 engine under each hood! While not official offerings from LEGO, the company responsible for much of my childhood delight could do worse than have a guy like Crowkillers on its payroll.

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Apparently all is not kosher in corn country. BMW of Lincoln, Nebraska posted an auction on eBay for a brand new M3 Sedan for $60,000. Perhaps they were hoping for the kind of eBay madness that would push the price to six figures (something other dealers are doing right on the show floor). If that’s what they were after, well, they didn’t get it. The car was won by a gentleman in California for the listed price: $60,000.

The problem is that the dealer doesn’t want to give him the car. Not long after the auction ended, the winning bidder got a call from BMW of Nebraska telling him the auction was “a mistake,” and that he couldn’t have the car. In spite of the fact that the dealership changed the Buy It Now price twice — and so was paying attention to the auction — and eBay rules that make it clear that if someone wins the auction then you must complete the transaction, the buyer is still trying to get someone to give him the car he won at the winning bid price.

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Just like any good political campaign, Mercedes came to the New York Auto Show touting nothing much as a whole lot. Actually, the faux political rally might have been less than compelling with its old news, but the new M Class sporting 50-state legal BlueTec diesel power is exciting. Almost as exciting as the very original 1965 190 D Mercedes had borrowed to illustrate its long-running experience with Rudy’s coal dust motor. The senescent sedan will be helping MBZ recreate Bill Carroll’s cross-country diesel-fueled journey to celebrate the U.S.-wide availability of what it’s touting as the cleanest diesel ever. BlueTec allows the M-, GL- and R-class oil burners to earn ULEV and TierII/Bin 5 classification.

Mercedes says its new diesels are now as clean as gasoline powerplants, and once they drop BlueTec hybrids on us, emissions and economy will improve yet again. JD Power projects that fully 40 percent of vehicles will be diesel powered by 2017, and Mercedes wants to increase diesel sales beyond the current level of 22 percent. The newly tweaked M-Class should help move the powertrain off dealer lots. Sporting plenty of safety upgrades, new headlights, a Hannibal-Lechter inspired grille and some interior tweaks, the M-Class has returned from the gym freshly chiseled. It was not all utes and politely obscured minivans (*ahem* R-Class). Just before Mercedes wrapped the presser, they said, we’re paraphrasing here, “Oh yeah, we also brought the SL, w00t.”

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Pay no attention to the “2008″ on that snake badge. Even though the 540-horsepower Shelby GT500KR was built to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a certain former chicken-farmer’s automotive exploits, it seems that neither Ford nor ‘ol Shel want the party to end. As a result, Ford and Shelby will produce an additional 746 units of the GT500KR in model year 2009. 541 of those will go to U.S. customers, making for a U.S.-market total of 1,571 cars, which conveniently matches the production run of the original KR. (Never mind those additional foreign-market cars — they just mess with that warm, fuzzy, marketing-oriented math.) For your enjoyment, check out our gallery of the Vista Blue Shelby GT500KR currently on the New York Auto Show floor.

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