Fifth Gear, the main competitor to BBC’s Top Gear, has been cancelled. According to a report by Daily Mail, channel Five cancelled the program, which ended in July, after it failed to attract more than a million viewers.

Sources at the station said that the decision has nothing to do with budget cuts but more because the show failed to make it on the list of Five’s top 30 watched programs – leaving a negative impact on advertising revenue.

Host Jonny Smith has been Twitting about the report saying: “Thanks to everyone for your compliments and words of encouragement. Remember, FG isn’t OFFICIALLY finished. Don’t (ever?) believe The Mail.”

He said “To answer all the tweets about Fifth Gear ending – I don’t know who the Daily Mail talked to, but nothing is official. TV is a fickle world.”

So take this with a grain of salt for now.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Daily Mail (via Final Gear)  - Jonny Smith

The folks with the other ‘Gear’ show have gotten behind the wheel of the Tramontana R Edition, a supercar designed by engineers who previously worked for Volkswagen, BMW and Lamborghini.

Refresher: Power for the two-seater supercar comes from a Mercedes-Benz 5.5L V12 engine making a total of 550-hp. A twin-turbocharged version is also available producing 720-hp with a maximum torque of 811 lb-ft. 0 to 62 mph comes in just 3.6 seconds with a top speed more than 200 mph.

Click through for the video.

Tramontana R Edition:

Tramontana R Edition:

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

While we’re huge fans of Top Gear, once in a while we love ourselves some Fifth Gear. The UK TV program recently got around to testing the new 2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage hosted by none other than Tiff Needell.

Refresher: Power comes from a 6.0L V12 engine that makes 510-hp with a maximum torque of 420 lb-ft. The 0 to 62 mph run comes in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 190 mph.

Click through for the video.

2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage:

2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage:

- By: Kap Shah

The 300-hp 2.5L 5-cylinder Duratec engine under the hood of the 2009 Ford Focus RS definitely gives it an edge over many of its rivals. The folks at Fifth Gear think that the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X can definitely give the Focus RS some strong competition so they decided to put the two cars head-to-head in a series of tests… on a track.

Check out the video after the jump to see who wins.

- By: Omar Rana

Waiting for the next season of Top Gear? Well, there’s just one day until it starts but to keep us patient and busy in the meantime, Fifth Gear’s Johnny Smith is bring us his review of the new 2010 Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro.

Refresher: Power comes from a 5.2L V10 producing a total of 528-hp. Mated to a R-tronic transmission the R8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro goes from 0 to 60 mph comes in just 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph.

Click through for the video.

2010 Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro:

2010 Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro:

- By: Omar Rana

The not so Top Fifth Gear drove the new 2009 Ford Focus RS this past weekend. Their take on Ford’s high-performing hatch?

“This is gotta be one of the best hot hatches in the world – if not the best. But do yourself a favor, buy it in blue.”

Refresher: Power comes from a 2.5L 5-cylinder Duratec engine with a large Borg Warner K16 turbocharger. That makes a total of 300-hp and a peak torque of 324 lb-ft allowing for a 0 to 62 mph run in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 163 mph.

Make the jump for the video.

2009 Ford Focus RS:

2009 Ford Focus RS:

Toyota says that the packaging of the Toyota iQ can fit twice as many people than the Smart ForTwo while being just 29 centimeters longer and and 12 centimeters wider. How does Toyota do it? Find out as Tom Ford explains the 6 steps Toyota took to offer all that space in its tiny little city car.

Refresher: Power comes from a 1.0L VVT-i 3-cylinder engine making 67-hp and a peak torque of 67 lb-ft. Combined with a 5-speed manual transmission, the iQ returns an impressive 65.7 mpg (55 mpg in U.S. terms).

Follow the jump for the video (try to watch it before YouTube and Fifth Gear have a little talk).

Toyota iQ:

Tiff Needell and Fifth Gear headed to the Italian Alps to see how the powerful all-wheel-drive Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 performs in the snow.

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 with 552 horsepower allowing for a 0 to 60 mph time in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph. However, as Needell explains, when you turn on the traction control in snowy conditions, the V10 pumps out limited horsepower and the computer limits the throttle so you don’t lose control.

Follow the jump for the video to see Needell’s review.

Earlier this morning we saw Fifth Gear’s review of the 2009 BMW 7-Series. We now have their review of the new Kia Soul.

The 2010 Kia Soul will go on sale in the U.S. later this year with prices starting at $13,995 for the entry level 122-hp 1.6 4-cylinder model. Pricing will run all the way up to $17,900 for a fully-loaded 142-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder. Click here for more pricing details on the 2010 Soul.

Follow the jump for the video and the high-res image gallery.

2010 Kia Soul:

2010 Kia Soul:

Tom Ford of Fifth Gear recently got behind the new 2009 BMW 7-Series – or 2009 750i to be exact. The 2009 7-Series will be available in the U.S. in two variants including the 750i and the 750 Li with prices starting at $81,125 and $85,025 respectively.

Power for the 2009 BMW 750i comes from a 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 making a total of 400-hp with a maximum torque of 450 lb-ft.

Sales start later this spring.

Follow the jump for the video before YouTube yanks it down.

2009 BMW 750i:

2009 BMW 750i:

Earlier today we saw Fifth Gear getting behind the 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco. Now Fifth Gear gives us the first video review of the beautiful (if you’re into the muscle car thing) 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8.

We just had a big smile on our face when Tom said “This modern day muscle car isn’t being sold in the UK – pretty much because every American with a spare 20 grand is on the waiting list to buy one.”

Finally something the Europeans want that we have and they can’t get one. Check out our high-resolution gallery with new images of the Challenger SRT8.

Refresher: Power comes from a 6.1 liter HEMI V8 engine that produces 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. 0–60 mph comes in at 4.9 seconds.

Click through for the video.

Fifth Gear review the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8:

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8:

The not so top gear, Fifth Gear, has gotten their hands on the 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco giving us the first video test drive of the new addition to the V-Dub lineup.

The 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco is now available in Europe with an entry level 122-hp 1.4L TSI. Two other TSI versions are also available producing 160-hp and 200-hp respectively. A 140-hp turbo-diesel TDI versions will also be added next year averaging a fuel-economy of 44mpg. All come with a 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional 7-speed DSG transmission.

Tom here is driving the 200-hp 2.0L turbo.

Click through for the video.

2009 Volkswagen Scirocco:

Fifth Gear drives the 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco:

If you ask us, we think its both cars are from different size categories for a comparison. Nonetheless, here is the first TV review of the 2008 Mazda 6 that should be headed to the U.S. very soon.

Out of curiosity, let us know in the comments section below which car you would pick out of the two.

Click through for the video.

It’s time for the midday video. Check out Fifth Gear’s review of the new 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Tiff doesn’t seem too impressed with it.

Refresher: powered by a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder Dual AVCS 16 Valve DOHC twin scroll turbo engine that produces 305 horsepower.

Click through for the video.

[tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Automotive, Subaru[/tags]

Check out Porsche’s latest addition to the Cayenne SUV lineup, the Cayenne GTS, as it takes on BMW’s X5 range-topper. It’s a great head-to-head battle of Germany’s two finest SUVs.

Refresher:

Porsche Cayenne GTS: 4.8L V8 engine producing 405hp. 0-60mph in 6.1 seconds.

BMW X5 4.8i: 4.8L V8 engine producing 350hp. 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds.

[tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Automotive, BMW, Porsche[/tags]

Check out this 6 minute clip of Tiff Needell’s review of the Lexus IS-F ($56,000) and see for yourself if it is worth the extra $1,425 over the BMW M3 Sedan ($54,575).

Refresher: The Lexus IS-F is powered by a 5.0L direct-injection V8 engine that produces 416 horsepower with a peak torque of 371 lb-ft. 0-62 comes in at 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 200mph.

Click through for the video.

We’ve shown you CAR’s and AutoCar’s review of the new Nissan GT-R, but here is the first TV review of the Nissan GT-R, and no it’s not  from Top Gear. The Fifth Gear folks have beaten Clarkson, Hammond and May, and have gotten their hands on the new GT-R and have nothing but good things to say about the car.

We’re still eagerly waiting on Clarkson’s review because you know he’ll find something wrong with it.

Click through to watch the video.

[tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Automotive, Nissan[/tags]

The Audi RS6 Avant is basically a moster for the everyday soccer mom or a person that wants to carry his pet in the back while doing 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. Good job Audi, we have to give it to you. Now give us that V10 twin-turbo charged engine in a RS6 sedan and we’ll show you some more love.

Check out this video review of Tiff test driving the new 2008 Audi RS6 Avant.

Click through for the video.