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Tesla Model S outselling Chevrolet Volt & Nissan LEAF

Tesla never managed to make any money out of their electric Lotus – the Tesla Roadster – but it does look like they’re on to a winner with their electric  executive saloon, the Tesla Model S. Despite moans that the headline-grabbing sub-$50k Model S was never a reality – and a starting point of $70k – the Model S looks set to outsell the two most successful ‘alternatively fuelled’ cars – the electric Nissan LEAF and the range extender Chevrolet Volt – in the first quarter of 2013. Sales of the electric Nissan LEAF, which costs from $29k in the US, in the first quarter of 2013 were 3,965 units and the Chevrolet Volt, which costs from $40k, sold 4,421 units.

Autoweek in review: This week's highlights

Here's a rundown of what you might have missed at Autoweek.com the past few days: --Automakers brought goodies galore to the SEMA show floor in Las Vegas. Check out all our coverage at the Autoweek SEMA show page. --After negative reception of the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic launched last spring, Honda is saying the next refresh for the Civic could be as soon as 2013, which is about a year ahead of schedule.

Skoda Rapid launches in India. Is this the Skoda MissionL for Europe?

Is the Skoda Rapide for India the MissionL Concept from Frankfurt? Skoda revealed the MissionL Concept at Frankfurt last month, a Skoda aiming to plug the gap between the Fabia and Octavia. At the time we commented that the MissionL could turn up in India before it did in Europe, and it looks like it has – as the new Skoda Rapid.