Each time we look at doing a Wallpaper Wednesday, we reach out to our Twitter audience and ask what they’d like to see. This week’s one came as a suggestion from one Dylan Laubscher - click his name for his site – who has some of his own shots to show off. With his permission, we’ve linked to his selection of wallpapers. And if we could add: we’re extremely jealous that he’s been able to shoot some of these cars. We’re also jealous that he’s got talent we can only dream of. Rock on, Dylan!

64kbps stream Download audio file (zacs133.mp3)

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It’s a flurry of last minute Frankfurt news and because of that the news is brief.  A lot of it will be breaking news in South Africa when the Johannesburg International Motor Show 2011 comes to town 8-16 October 2011. It’s not often we get to review a Porsche, so we take our time with racing driver and motoring journalist from The Times and Sunday Times, Thomas Falkiner, to talk about the Porsche Carrera 4S GTS. It’s also review time for a pocket rocket from the Porsche’s holding company, Volkswagen, in the form of the new VW Polo GTI, a 1.4 twin-charged beastie, but you’ll have to listen to find out why.

Thomas, Christo and Trevor agree it's a good car, but is it the best? Listen to find out. Click on the image to go to a full gallery of the 2011 VW Polo GTi

Strange name, but its the type of car that the FIAT group has needed to counter the success of the Porsche Cayene. Click on the image to go to a full gallery of the Kubang.

This is pretty much the spec of the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S GTS that Thomas Falkiner reviews in this episode of ZA Car Show. Click on the image to see the rear and interior of this customised car.

Episode 133 hi-fi download (19MB) 
Episode 133 lo-fi download (9.5MB)

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64kbps stream Download audio file (zacs131.mp3)

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131 is an iconic FIAT that both Trevor and Patrick would love to have in their garages one day in Ralaye form. It also had a Spanish twin in the form of the SEAT 131. But of course it’s also the latest episode of ZA Car Show.

What a week of beautiful cars it was too. We talk about the Ferrari 458 Spider, KTM X-Bow with a hardtop kit, the Porsche 911 (991), the Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG, Toyota FT86′s twin the Subaru BRZ, New Mercedes-Benz SLK and Hyundai Elantra. You can’t disagree with that that, or can you? Hmmm, have a listen to find out.

If you’re considering a new SUV, something like an BMW X5, then do yourself a favour and take in the review of the 2011 BMW X3 2.0d before you make your choice. We might just sway your decision.

Not quite as pretty as an Alfa 8C Spider, but still in the ZA Car Show team's top three most beautiful convertibles. For a full gallery of the Ferrari click on the image.

Very sleek, very sexy, very Porsche. What do you think of the new 911 (991). Click on the image for a full gallery of this car.

The Subaru collaboration with Toyota on this car has spawned a model for each manufacturer, the Subaru has been quite shy though. At least we know it will be called the BRZ, but click on the picture and you can see what the Toyota looks like.

"The best SLK to-date" is what a lot of motoring journalists are calling it. It's certainly the most beautiful. Click on the image for a full 50+ image gallery showcasing many of the new technologies in this car.

In the compact sedan segment we're used to boring or awkward, rarely ever beautiful, have a look at the gallery by clicking on the picture and let us know what you think, we think it's a bit OMG jaw on the floor stuff!

Episode 131 hi-fi download (19MB) 
Episode 131 lo-fi download (9.5MB)

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Sometimes the selection of colours from a manufacturer doesn’t quite cut it. If it’s not bland, it’s just not crazy enough. Since those who love cars see their vehicles as an expression of themselves, it only makes sense for them to be a little custom…

We’re not talking about “Fast and Furious” levels of insanity, here. Just a nice paintjob, or vinyl wrap for those who don’t have the balls to permanently drive around in a pink Bentley. Today’s selection of wallpapers shows off some of the eye-catching finishes on some exotics and a few limited-availability paint options on some other cars. What colour would you paint your car, given the chance? Sound off in the comments, on Twitter or join us for the discussion on Facebook.

*All photos are property of their respective copyright holders. If you see a photo that is yours, please get in touch and we can credit you, or remove it from this posting.

Here’s one for both petrolhead camps. For the bike fans, this video’s got BMW’s blisteringly faster S1000RR – the most powerful 1000cc road bike in the world. It goes up against Porsche’s ultimate road-going track machine, the GT3 RS.

Now, we know that going sideways isn’t the fastest way around the track but we’ll be damned if it doesn’t look good. It looks like the driver of the orange Beetle in this video is having a ball of a time, while the BMW’s pilot is really brave to even be around the slidey tail-end of the Porsche.

Tips or suggestions for the ZA Car Video of the day? E-mail us, catch us on Twitter or leave a message on our Facebook page!

Back in the day, when sex was safe and motorsport was dangerous, people could get away with things like this. As testament to how old this video is: it features a Nürburgring free of any trackside trees, and it was dubbed from a super VHS videotape. It also features a man, taking a Sunday drive in his RUF Yellowbird.

The person who linked this video said it the best: “Loafers + violently shaking wheel back and forth = lap of ‘ring.”

Hang on to your hats, and prepare to shout “holy crap”. This historics race at Spa Franchorchamps sees a bit of action at Eau Rouge, the tight left-hander at the end of the main straight. We’re willing to bet the drive of that 911 was thanking his lucky stars after this incident.

Tips or suggestions for the ZA Car Video of the day? E-mail us, catch us on Twitter or leave a message on our Facebook page!

Porsche reached out to its fans, and achieved something special. Running a Facebook campaign to reach 1 000 000 fans, in the shortest time possible, the German automaker thought of a unique way to say thank you to those who supported it.

The engineers at Zuffenhausen prepared a special 911 GT3R – the hybrid version – with a paintjob consisting of all the names of the first 1-million fans. Then they made a video of it.

(Thanks to ZA Car reader, Nafisa, for the tip off!)

Tips or suggestions for the ZA Car Video of the day? E-mail us, catch us on Twitter or leave a message on our Facebook page!

Download audio file (zacs49.mp3)

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.

Download audio file (zacs12.mp3)

Episode 12 of ZA Car Show with Christo van Gemert, Patrick Gearing Trevor Tuck and Trevor van de Ven covers some interesting news on the environmental front, from new hybrids, podcars and electric Porsches. We are also first to drive the new Ford Fiesta and play a sports car challenge. 

Episode 12 the ZACS team covers:

• New Cars: Toyota Prius 
• Podcars 
• The RUF electric [Porsche] 911 
• Electric cars and the silly things that manufacturers are having to build because electric cars are too quiet
• New Cars MINI E – electric car 
• Fiat’s new downloadable fuel economy tool: For Fiat drivers with Blue&Me only, sorry. 
• New Cars: Ford’s Focus RS Christo has pictures of the car in the flesh which we cannot share unfortunately 
• Smart2Go city commute concept – ready for South Africa or not? 
• New Car Drive: 2009 Ford Fiesta launch in South Africa 
• ZACS challenge: Pick a sports car for under R500 000, sounds like a lot of money, trust ZACS there is not much to choose from. The results, again, are surprising.
• And finally the answer the Episode 11′s challenge on rotary engines

and more…

Direct file download (29.5MB)