Is This the First Official Teaser of the New Renault Clio IV?

A cropped image allegedly showing the rear quarters of the next generation of the Renault Clio titled "Nouvelle Renalt Clio, Mondial de Paris 2012" has been making the internet rounds today after it was first posted on the Planeterenault forums.

The snapshot was reportedly taken from Renault's general shareholder meeting in Paris on Friday, April 27.

The shape of the rear passenger window with the hidden door handle and the lines around the lights match those of the prototype models we have seen testing in Europe over the past few months, so it is very likely that the picture is indeed the real deal.

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Toyota to Debut New RAV4 EV at Next Week's International Electric Vehicle Symposium

The production version of the pure electric Toyota RAV4 that we first saw in prototype guise at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show will make its world premiere at the 26th edition of the International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26), which takes place on Monday, May 7 in the City of Angels, the Japanese automaker announced today.

The new RAV4 EV has been developed in cooperation with Tesla that provides the electric driveline including the battery, motor, transmission and power electronics. Tesla will build the electric powertrains at its production plant in Palo Alto, California and then ship them to Toyota's Canadian facility for final assembly into the RAV4.

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ABT Launches Tuning Program for New 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

After its motor show debut in Geneva last month, ABT Sportline has now announced the commercial launch of its modification package for the second generation of the New Volkswagen Beetle.

The German aftermarket firm starts with a power kit for the Beetle's 2.0-liter TFSI that bumps output from 197hp (200PS) to 236hp (240PS).

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Mitsubishi to Sell New Mirage in Canada, Pondering U.S. Launch

The new Mitsubishi Mirage sub-compact model has been officially confirmed for Canada while the Japanese automaker is also contemplating the launch of the five-door hatchback in the U.S.

According to Mitsubishi's annual presentation on full-year sales and financial results for the fiscal year 2011 that ended on March 31, 2012, the Mirage will go on sale in North America in the first quarter of 2013 (FY2012/4Q).

Mitsubishi spokesperson Roger Yasukawa told Autonews that the Mirage will be sold in Canada but noted that U.S. sales are still "under consideration" and that "it's still 50-50 right now".

There are a couple of reasons why Mitsubishi is holding back on its decision over the U.S. launch of the Mirage, the first being its tight marketing budget as the company plans to introduce the new Outlander.

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General Motors in Talks with Isuzu on Acquiring a 10% Stake

It has been three years since General Motors sold back its stake in Japanese car and truck manufacturer Isuzu after the Detroit company went into bankruptcy in 2009, though the two automakers never terminated their collaboration as evidenced by the new Chevrolet Colorado and the latest Isuzu D-Max pickup trucks.

Now we learn from Reuters that GM is interested in entering a new capital tie-up with Isuzu, reportedly to launch joint projects for commercial vehicles in Asia as well as Central and South America.

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Aussie 1969 Ford Falcon XW GT Wagon Replica up for Grabs

Some will be surprised to know that the ridiculously fast family car is not a creation of the German auto industry that has dominated the segment in the past few decades with models like the Audi RS4/RS6, BMW M3/M5 and Mercedes C63/E63 AMG.

Back in the late 1960s, while American carmakers were obsessed with pony and muscle cars in coupe and convertible forms, Ford's Australian division gave birth to a vehicle that would change the industry: the 1967 Falcon XR GT sports saloon powered by a Mustang-sourced 225bhp 4.7-liter V8.

Holden tried to compete with the four-door Monaro GTS, but it was Ford that ended up creating the world's fastest production saloon in 1971 with the XY Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III propelled by a tuned 351 (5.8-liter) Cleveland V8 with up to 390bhp and a top speed of 250km/h (155mph).

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