It was nearly a decade ago that car enthusiasts around the world were shocked to see the BBC cut Top Gear from its lineup, and it was then that Fifth Gear was born. Fifth Gear was originally intended to be a no frills alternative to Top Gear – focused more on the delivery of automotive comparison and review.

The Ford Mustang has enjoyed its comfy perch atop the muscle car segment for the past several years, but the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is starting to make things a little uncomfortable for the perennial best-seller.

Nissan may be behind the curve when it comes to hybrid technology, but the Japanese automaker is working hard to ensure that it will be at the forefront of electric vehicle technology. Nissan CEO Carlso Ghosn announced on Monday that the company is readying a new battery that will be lighter and more powerful than today’s lithium-ion units.

Following the release of official production sketches earlier this year, Kia has officially taken the wraps off the production version of its VG sedan. Set to go on sale later this year in Korea, the VG will replace the Opirus and Amanti models worldwide. Korean sales will begin later this year with North American sales following in spring of 2010.

Its non-press-fleet siblings are common sights on rental car lots at most major airports in North America. The Dodge Avenger SXT is the mainstream version of the car that, for all intents and purposes, looks as though it is a growth-stunted version of the Dodge Charger, even if it doesn’t quite move like one.

General Motors’ sales have taken a beaten over the last few months, but the Detroit-based automaker is expected to post stronger October sales numbers on the back of an improved marketing efforts and a fresh vehicle lineup.

Mitsubishi may be showing its latest plug-in hybrid technology in an Outlander-based SUV concept at this month’s Tokyo Motor Show, but the Japanese automaker could be planning to use the green tech in the next-generation of its top performance car.

Toyota’s San Antonio truck plant is currently mulling over in excess of 14,000 applications in hopes of finding an eventual 850 new hires for both temporary and permanent positions. Toyota’s move is intended to drive the plant’s ramped up production of the full-size Tundra, as well as beginning production of the Tacoma for the first time.

Europe currently enjoys the Opel Insignia OPC, a performance sedan with a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 producing 325 hp, which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission that drives a Haldex-based all-wheel-drive system. Now, rumor has it that a similar vehicle could make its way to U.S. shores in the form of a Buick Regal GS.

As the Hyundai Genesis Sedan has shown, you don’t need a fancy name to move up the automotive food chain. But can just any automaker make the same shift? We’re about to find out as Suzuki’s all-new mid-size Kizashi is set to hit the U.S. market later this year.

Ford Motor Company posted a 73 percent gain in hybrid sales so far in 2009, with 26,016 vehicles sold. Honda outsold Ford with 29,958 vehicles sold, yet only posted an 8 percent gain.

The fate of general Motors’ former Hummer brand hung in the balance as recently as a few weeks ago, but it looks as though the iconic off-road brand is on the road to recover as production of the company’s H3 and H3T models is slated to resume next month.

In order to complete a takeover of Porsche and explore other possible acquisitions, Volkswagen announced on Friday a plan to raise up to $14.9 billion in new capital. VW plans to raise the money through the issuing of new preferred shares.

It’s getting harder and harder to name specific vehicle nameplates from the 1970s, let alone the names of available colors. However, one hue seems to stand out above all other in the automotive world, and Chrysler is bringing it back for 2010 – Plum Crazy.

With more established auto markets not showing any signs of sales growth, most of the world’s automakers are focusing their efforts developing regions. General Motors already has a strong presence in China – thanks to a tie-up with China’s SAIC Motor Corp. – and is now said to be taking aim at the Indian market.

After a fifteen year hiatus for the Lotus nameplate, Lotus F1 Team is set to return to F1 racing with their new race car. Lotus will be returning just in time to meet the revised rules for the 2010 season.

Our spy photographers have supplied us with plenty of shots of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible over the last few months but, thanks to a leaky European patent office, we now have images of the E-Class drop-top completely in the buff.

The widely known driver and internet phenom Ken Block is stepping out of his Subaru and into a Ford to start a career in the World Rally Championship. This partnership will provide an opportunity for the WRC to tap into a fan base practically non-existent in America.

Chinese automakers are often accused of stealing automotive designs, but in the case of one Ford employee, the charges are quite literal. A Ford employee was arrested earlier this week and booked on charges of stealing trade secrets for the Chinese.

Tata Motors may have moved up-scale with the purchase of the Land Rover and Jaguar brands, but the Indian automaker still has a strong focus on inexpensive motoring. As such, Tata announced on Thursday that it will be boosting production of its Nano to keep up with growing demand.