Opel’s CEO, Nick Reily, has taken the wraps off of Opel’s future with a five year plan that outlines future alternative energy developments, product launches and shifts to the labor pool for the ailing automaker. Not wasting any time, Reily has eight new model launches planned to take place in 2010 alone.

The Ford Transit Connect Electric, a pure electric-powered version of the 2010 North American Truck of Year will go into production in late 2010. This pure EV is set to enter fleet service before the end of the year, and will enter full production in early 2011, according to Ford.

The incredibly diminutive Fiat 500 will be getting a newer, more powerful and more fuel efficient diesel engine – at least for the European market. Fiat’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne has indicated that the U.S. will be getting the MINI-fighting small car, but he has not confirmed whether or not the diesel variant will be available as well.

In a separate and completely unrelated (to unintended acceleration cases, floor mats or brake pedals) voluntary recall, Toyota will be fixing approximately 7,300 2010 four-cylinder Camrys with a shorter-than-intended power steering pressure hose that can interfere with the braking system and cause a brake fluid leak.

As anticipated by much of the media, Toyota has officially announced the solution for the braking issues on the 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Lexus HS 250H hybrids in the U.S. market, as well as the Toyota Sai sold mostly in Japan. Toyota will be issuing a voluntary recall for approximately 133,000 Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus HS 250h hybrid models in the U.S. concerning potential for ABS brake failure due to a software glitch, with a total worldwide recall count of 437,000 vehicles.

A European patent filing has led to the leaking of some fairly crude computer generated images of a potential future Toyota product. Although the vehicle is unnamed and doesn’t coincide with any news Toyota has made public, it appears to follow Prius design cues.

Not content with the brand’s current image, Audi president Johan de Nysschen says the German automaker will focus on improved sales of its top-level offerings in an effort to move the Audi brand further up the luxury scale.

Although the Chicago Auto Show might be just a few days away, BMW is waiting for March’s New York salon to formally unveil its revised X5 crossover lineup. The German automaker slipped a pair of new, turbocharged six and eight-cylinder engines under the hoods of its otherwise mildly revised X5 crossovers.

The Chevrolet Cruze sedan has yet to enter production for the United States market, but rumors are already beginning to surface about future variants of the four-door. The Cruze has been in production for well over a year in many global markets, but was first shown in the U.S. at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

For 2010 Dodge has a reason to celebrate – 40 years of rich muscle-car heritage. To commemorate the big anniversary, Dodge has decided that it will produce two limited edition Challenger models – covered in what they are calling ‘Furious Fuchsia’ paint.

A south Korean court has found Hyundai CEO, Chung Mong-Koo, guilty of making decisions to protect managerial rights, despite knowing it could inflict damage to the company. The court has ordered that Chung Mong-Koo pay back a portion of the losses incurred by the company, totaling roughly $60 million.

Toyota’s Lexus brand has long-established itself as a leader in luxury hybrid vehicles, but General Motors’ Cadillac brand is reportedly taking aim at Lexus’ eco-friendly domain. Cadillac could offer a hybrid option on two of its future rear-drive offerings.

Leftlane brought you some teaser info and a video showing off Ford’s latest SVT offering last week, and now we have the official details that make up this new muscle car. Like the previous Shelby GT500, this latest offering is a joint effort between Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and Carroll Shelby.

Lending further credence to earlier reports that Fiat could merge the Chrysler and Lancia brands by year’s end, it has been revealed that Chrysler and Lancia will share a stage at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Chrysler and Lancia will also hold a joint press conference.

Ahead of its official debut early next month at the Geneva Motor Show, Honda has announced that the European-market CR-Z hybrid sports coupe will get a unique 2+2 seating arrangement, unlike the two-seat-only North American version.

Porsche’s iconic 911 Turbo has never been a slouch in the performance department, but the German automaker has announced an even higher-performance version of the turbocharged coupe. Dubbed the 911 Turbo S, the new model promises to improve the 911 Turbo’s overall performance.

In what could be the last major hurdle in Saab’s transfer of ownership from General Motors to Spyker, Sweden’s guarantee of a European Investment Bank loan has reportedly been cleared by the European Union. The European Investment Bank is the official lending arm of the European Union.

Toyota’s massive recall of many of its high-volume models has, surprisingly, led to few credible reports of similar symptoms in non-recalled models. Yet a 2004 Toyota 4Runner in California is said to be experiencing exactly the same issues as its recalled brethren.

Seat – Volkswagen’s Spanish division – has announced it will use next month’s Geneva Motor Show to showcase its latest Ibiza variant. Dubbed the Ibiza ST, the new sport wagon represents the third Ibiza model, joining the three and five-door hatchback models.

General Motors will officially introduce its revised Chevrolet Silverado HD powered by a new 6.6-liter Duramax diesel on Wednesday at the Chicago Auto Show, but the automaker confirmed this morning that the powertrain will be capable of running on B20 biodiesel.