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VW to announce Italdesign takeover on Tuesday

Volkswagen will announce Tuesday that it will take a 90 percent stake in Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A, people familiar with the matter told Automotive News Europe. The Giugiaro family will retain 10 percent in the Italian design house that is famous for styling cars such as the first-generation VW Golf. VW plans to acquire control of Italdesign to help reach its goal of becoming the world's largest automaker by 2018 with sales of 10 million vehicles a year.

Citroen C4 Picasso five-seat

This is the new five-seat version of the C4 Picasso following the seven-seat model shown at the Paris Motor Show, which will now to be known as the Grand C4 Picasso. Naturally enough then, the two cars will compete with the standard and Grand Renault Scenics, the new Citroen C4 Picasso also tackling the handsome Volkswagen Golf Plus. The C4 Picasso shares its front half with its bigger stablemate while the rear has become more fastback in style, blackened pillars and dipping beltline also reminding of the Citroen C-Sportlounge concept.

Mazda 3 hatchback (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

The Mazda 3 is back: lighter, more eco-friendly and supposedly better to drive than ever, promises Mazda. Brought up-to-date with Mazda’s new ‘Kodo’ design style from the 6 saloon and CX-5 crossover, the new Mazda 3 is a handsome hatchback, and boasts a far superior cabin to its predecessor. Is that enough to shoehorn buyers out of the VW Golf and Ford Focus? Get the full CAR story here.