ZA Car Show: Episode 49

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Welcome to the 49th recording of the ZA Car Show. This is a very full week packed with international and, of  course, breaking local news news. We suspect if manufacturers actually launched cars at auto shows instead of  leaking pictures on the ‘net, half of the sparkle will not be lost at the actual events.

Jeep kindly gave ZACS a Jeep J8 for a bit of a comparative test…with a Suzuki Jimny, we’re still trying to work out of we are surprised about the Jimny or the Jeep  both of which equally thrilled when thrown into ridiculous off-road situations.

Jeep J8 and some of its siblings.

For more show notes, pictures of the Suzuki and Jeep excursion and other interesting news  clickerize ‘more’ under this post.

Direct file download (31.6MB)

• Under new VW ownership Porsche plans to kill off non-core models like the Panamera and Cayenne to focus on sports cars [via World Car Fans]
• Porsche then promptly announces the 911 Sport Classic – a model which harks backs to the early 70′s Porsche Carrera RS [via Carscoop]

Arguably better looking than the original

• Fiat Punto Evo: as its name implies it is the next generation Punto with a little more obvious FIAT 500 DNA and FIAT’s Multiair engine [via Eurocarblog]

Still good looking, but many people prefer the original

• Volvo C70 undergoes a bit of a controversial nip and tuck [via Autoblog]

The Volvo corporate styling comes to the C70

• Lexus models also go under the knife and get minor spec changes[via: World Car Fans]
• BMW Vision Concept,  a truly fast hybrid car from BMW with proper hybrid credentials [via: Wired.com]

Remember the orange BMW M1 "Concept"? This bares more than a striking resemblance

• Audi A5 Cabriolet, not yet officially launched in SA, but ZACS breaks the news [Audi A5 Microsite]
• FIAT’s budget saloon car the Linea is officially launched to local press, ZACS drives it

It's good looking, more stylised than the Ford Ikon. Poor choice of engine Christo says though.

• The Nissan Murano’s shows its ugly face in South Africa

Looks like it fell out of a dow and got smacked by the ugly samurai...

The Qashqai DNA runs strong in this one

• Google starts mapping SA, more importantly in Toyota Prius Hybrids

Poles sticking out of Prius roofs became a problem...

• Driven: Suzuki Jimny and non-civilian Jeep J8

Looking a little our of place amongst the Jeeps...

The little Jimny that thought it could...could

Who needs a Jeep for this stuff...

Unless, of course, it's a Jeep J8.

1 Comment so far

Comment by Simon, posted on September 14th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

Ahh yes, but actual events cost a lot of money to host, which the industry simply doesnt have. Leaking via the net is the cheap way to do it in tough financial times.

Glitzy launches seldom sell cars. Real buyers pretty much know what they want…. A launch, which amazingly real customers are never invited to has little effect on the sale of a car. The days of Car Magazine selling cars are long over. With online forums, spy shot galleries, customers have never had it this good.

During meltdowns like these only those companies who are able to cutback on waste survive.

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